Homebuyers in England have paid more than £3.24 billion in Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in the first eight months of 2025 according to new analysis – a sum that would have been saved under Conservative Party plans to abolish the tax on main residence purchases.
The figures, compiled by over-50s property specialists Regency Living, are based on Land Registry data for all completed residential transactions between January and August this year.
In total, buyers spent £116 billion on homes across England during the period, generating billions for the Treasury through one of the most controversial housing-related taxes.
The data highlights the potential scale of savings that could result from the Conservatives’ recently announced proposal to scrap stamp duty for primary home purchases if they win the next general election – a pledge unveiled last week at the party’s conference in Manchester.
HEAVIEST TAX BURDEN
London homebuyers have borne the heaviest tax burden, paying over £1 billion in SDLT this year, followed by the South East (£771.5 million), East of England (£414.4 million), and South West (£331.7 million). Buyers in the North East contributed the least, though still faced a collective bill of £40.7 million.
Across England, the average stamp duty payment stands at £4,593, based on an average property price of £291,852. In London, where the average price exceeds £561,000, the typical bill rises to £18,079. The highest individual averages are found in Kensington and Chelsea, where buyers face SDLT charges of nearly £80,000 per transaction.
PROHIBITIVE COSTS
Outside the capital, the South East remains one of the costliest regions, with average payments of £9,088 and typical bills exceeding £26,000 in prime areas such as Elmbridge.
In the East of England, the average in St Albans reaches £21,428, while in the Cotswolds, buyers face an average of £12,155.
At the other end of the market, buyers in the North East pay the least, with average SDLT bills of just £774 based on local property values.
Tim Simmons, sales director at Regency Living, says the tax remains one of the most prohibitive costs for buyers, adding that many downsizers now choose stamp duty–exempt park homes to avoid paying thousands of pounds on traditional property purchases.
