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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Vicky Shaw

House flipping now at 10-year low after stamp duty change

  • The practice of “flipping” homes, which involves buying and reselling properties within 12 months, has plummeted to its lowest level in over a decade across England and Wales.
  • Property firm Hamptons reported that the number of flipped homes halved from 21,520 in 2016 to 10,570 in 2025, now accounting for just 1.5 per cent of housing transactions.
  • This significant decline is largely attributed to a “long slowdown” following the introduction of the second home stamp duty surcharge in 2016.
  • Profitability for flipping has varied sharply by region, with the steepest falls concentrated in the South of England due to weaker house price growth and higher stamp duty costs.
  • Conversely, the North East of England, including locations like Hartlepool and Sunderland, remains a “flipping hotspot” where lower entry prices and stronger house price growth still allow for healthy returns.

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