The Daily Telegraph has reported that Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has avoided paying £40,000 in stamp duty on her new seaside flat.
The newspaper claims that Rayner informed the tax authorities that the property in Hove, worth around £800,000, was her main home. This allowed her to benefit from a significant reduction in tax.
According to the report, the arrangement came about after Rayner removed her name from the deeds of her home in Greater Manchester. This step was taken just a few weeks before she purchased the flat on the south coast.
By declaring the Hove apartment as her primary residence, Rayner legally sidestepped a much higher tax bill. The Telegraph estimates that without this move, she would have been liable to pay £70,000 in stamp duty.
Stamp duty charges increase when someone buys an additional property, with second homes subject to higher tax rates. By classifying the flat as her main residence, Rayner ensured that she did not have to pay the higher amount.
The newspaper is clear that her actions were not unlawful. The rules allow homeowners to decide which property is treated as their primary residence for tax purposes.
However, the report suggests there is some confusion about how Rayner’s properties have been declared to different local authorities. This is where questions have begun to arise.
It is said that Rayner has told Tameside council, in Greater Manchester, that her constituency home in Ashton-under-Lyne remains her main address.
At the same time, Brighton and Hove council has reportedly been informed that the Hove flat is a second home when it comes to paying council tax.
This has led to conflicting accounts about which property is truly her primary residence. The issue is particularly sensitive given her senior role in government and her responsibilities as Housing Secretary.
Critics may argue that the situation highlights the complexity of the UK’s property tax system, where definitions of “main home” can vary depending on the type of tax involved.
For ordinary homeowners, the rules around stamp duty and council tax can already be confusing. Cases involving high-profile politicians often attract greater scrutiny, as they are expected to lead by example.
The Telegraph notes that Rayner’s financial saving was entirely legal. Still, the story is likely to fuel debate about whether the system allows those with multiple properties to gain an advantage.
At present, Rayner has not commented publicly on the claims. Questions may continue to be raised about how her different addresses are classified and what this means for both tax and political transparency.
The full article is available on the Telegraph’s website, though some readers may find it is behind a paywall: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/08/28/angela-rayner-dodges-40000-stamp-duty/
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