SDLT March 2025 Case Study

Case Study: Navigating the March 2025 SDLT Surge – How Our Residential Conveyancing Team Delivered Under Pressure

Keywords: residential conveyancing, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) changes 2025, property completions, conveyancing solicitor, housing market, property transactions UK, legal property services, SDLT deadline March 2025

Background:

On 1st April 2025, a significant change to the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) structure came into effect, impacting buyers of residential property across England. Several thresholds were lowered, creating increased SDLT liabilities for most purchasers and prompting a flurry of activity in the housing market in the months leading up to the deadline.

Many buyers were keen to complete their property transactions before 31st March 2025 to avoid the increased charges. This surge created an unprecedented bottleneck in residential conveyancing, putting pressure on legal teams nationwide.

The Challenge:

March 2025 saw a remarkable 34% increase in completions compared to March 2024, with over 178,000 residential transactions recorded according to industry estimates. By contrast, the five-year average for March was around 132,000 completions, illustrating the scale of the demand.

This spike placed enormous strain on all parties involved in property transactions—particularly conveyancers, mortgage lenders, surveyors, and local authority search teams. Delays in mortgage approvals, last-minute contract issues, and overloaded digital systems were daily hurdles across the country.

Our Response:

At Baughan Legal, we took proactive steps to ensure our clients were protected and supported throughout this turbulent period. Due to our ethos of having lower caseloads than the majority of law firms out there, we were well placed to meet this surge of transactions.

Even so, to ensure we continued to offer a high level of service to our clients and were available to assist in the best way possible, our conveyancers worked extended hours, including weekends and evenings, to meet client expectations and completion targets.

Key Actions Included:

Early SDLT assessments for all transactions potentially impacted by the changes

Fast-tracked contract exchanges through digital document execution

Regular updates and transparent communication to keep clients informed of progress

Close coordination with estate agents and mortgage providers to avoid last-minute setbacks

Despite the pressures, we achieved an estimated 96% on-time completion rate for transactions targeted for 31 March 2025—well above the national average.

Client Experience:

One of our clients, a first-time buyer in Northampton, said:

"We were really stressed about the deadline, but Amy at Baughan Legal made the process seamless. She was responsive, professional, and genuinely cared about saving us the extra Stamp Duty money so we could spend it on other things in the house instead. We couldn't be happier."

Looking Ahead:

As the property market adjusts to the new SDLT bands, Baughan Legal remains committed to guiding buyers and sellers with clear advice and efficient legal service. Whether you're a first-time buyer, moving up the ladder, or investing in a second property, our expert residential conveyancers are here to help.

Planning a Property Transaction?

Contact us today for a free initial consultation with our conveyancing experts.