Readers’ forum: Two for one?

I have a client who is buying a home in a retirement complex. The apartments being offered are not considered large enough so they are purchasing two adjacent apartments with a view to making them at least connecting if not a single unit.

Although they would both have separate deeds are there circumstances where this could be considered a single purchase of a replacement home or will it be the case that my client will be required to pay the additional stamp duty 3% surcharge on the second apartment?

Readers’ thoughts will be very much appreciated.

Query 19 465 – Passerine.

Reply by Steve Kesby

The purchase of the two properties will be linked transactions.

On the face of it the short answer to Passerine’s question is: ‘It’s probably worse than that.’ There may be some planning points though. Since Passerine refers to...