Finance Act 2018

Exception where purchaser has prior interest in purchased dwelling

3 After paragraph 7 insert—

“Exception where purchaser has prior interest in purchased dwelling

7A (1) A chargeable transaction which would (but for this paragraph) fall within paragraph 3 or paragraph 6 does not fall within that paragraph if—

(a) the purchaser had a major interest (“the prior interest”) in the relevant purchased dwelling immediately before the effective date of the transaction, and

(b) the relevant purchased dwelling had been the purchaser’s only or main residence throughout the period of three years ending with the effective date of the transaction.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply if—

(a) the prior interest is a term of years absolute or a leasehold estate, and

(b) immediately before the effective date of the transaction, the remaining term of the prior interest is less than 21 years.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply if immediately before the effective date of the transaction—

(a) the purchaser is beneficially entitled as a joint tenant to the prior interest, and

(b) there are more than three other joint tenants.

(4) Sub-paragraph (1) does not apply if immediately before the effective date of the transaction the purchaser is beneficially entitled as a tenant in common or coparcener to less than a quarter of the prior interest.

(5) In this paragraph “relevant purchased dwelling” means—

(a) the purchased dwelling mentioned in paragraph 3(1)(b), or (as the case may be)

(b) the purchased dwelling which meets the conditions mentioned in paragraph 6(1)(c).”