Is a Stamp Duty Refund Worth Claiming?

Every claims firm will tell you that claiming a stamp duty refund is worth it. Of course they will — they earn their fee when you claim. But the truth is more nuanced. For some property purchases, the refund is genuinely significant. For others, it's barely worth the paperwork. And for a few, the cost of using a claims firm actually exceeds the net benefit.

This guide gives you the honest numbers — broken down by property price, chattels level, and whether you're better off DIYing, using a specialist, or simply walking away.

The quick reference table

Here's the summary. The detail for each bracket follows below.

Based on unfurnished/part-furnished properties with moderate chattel values. Furnished properties can have 3-5x higher chattel values and correspondingly larger refunds.

Under £250,000: probably not worth it

Properties under £250,000 fall entirely within the 0% and 2% SDLT bands for standard purchasers. The marginal rate on the portion where chattels would make a difference (£125,001-£250,000) is just 2%. Even with £5,000 of chattels, the SDLT saving is only £100.

At that level, a claims firm charging 30-40% would take £30-£40, leaving you with £60-£70. After the time and admin involved, it's barely worth the effort — for you or the firm. Most claims firms won't even take on claims this small.

£250,000-£500,000: marginal — DIY if you have time

In this bracket, the marginal SDLT rate on the chattel deduction is 5% (on the portion between £250,001 and £500,000). With typical chattels of £5,000-£10,000, the refund is £250-£500. For furnished properties, it could reach £600-£800.

This is where the economics get interesting. A claims firm charging 35% of a £400 refund would take £140, leaving you with £260. That's still money, but it's not transformative.

Our recommendation: if you have the time and are comfortable writing a letter to HMRC, this is a good candidate for a DIY claim. You keep the entire refund with no fees. If you don't have the time or inclination, a specialist can still be worthwhile — £260 in your pocket for signing a form is better than £0.

£500,000-£925,000: worth it — consider a specialist

This is the sweet spot for chattels refund claims. The marginal SDLT rate is still 5%, but properties in this bracket tend to come with higher-quality chattels — better carpets, more expensive curtains, premium white goods, and more rooms overall.

Typical chattels values of £10,000-£20,000 produce refunds of £500-£1,000. For well-furnished properties, the refund can reach £1,500-£2,000.

At these levels, a specialist adds genuine value. They provide professional chattel valuations that are more likely to withstand HMRC scrutiny, and the economics work: 35% of a £1,500 refund is £525 to the firm, leaving you with £975. And the specialist's expertise typically results in a higher claim than you'd achieve yourself, because they know the market values and how to present the claim to HMRC.

£925,000-£1,500,000: definitely worth it

Above £925,000, the marginal SDLT rate jumps to 10%. This means every £1 of chattel deduction saves 10p in stamp duty — double the saving per pound compared to the 5% band.

Properties at this price point typically have significant chattels: high-quality fitted carpets, designer curtains, premium appliances, and often some furniture. Chattel values of £20,000-£40,000 are common, producing refunds of £2,000-£4,000. For particularly well-appointed properties, refunds can reach £5,000-£6,000.

At these amounts, using a specialist is almost always the right call. The fee (typically £700-£2,000) is easily justified by the quality of the valuation and the smooth HMRC process. A professional RICS valuation also provides strong defence if HMRC opens a compliance check.

£1,500,000+: always use a specialist

Above £1,500,000, the marginal SDLT rate is 12% — the highest residential rate. Properties at this level typically have luxury chattels: bespoke curtains, high-end carpets, Sub-Zero fridges, furniture that was included in the sale. Chattel values of £30,000-£80,000 are common.

Refunds at this level routinely exceed £5,000 and can reach £10,000-£15,000 or more. For additional property buyers paying the 5% surcharge, the effective marginal rate is 17%, and refunds can be even larger.

At these amounts, professional help is essential. The values involved justify a detailed RICS survey, and the specialist's fee (even at 30-40%) is more than offset by the higher claim amount their expertise produces.

Furnished vs unfurnished

The numbers above assume a typical unfurnished or part-furnished property. If your property was purchased fully furnished — with beds, sofas, dining sets, wardrobes, and other furniture included in the sale — the chattel value can be 3-5 times higher than an unfurnished equivalent.

A furnished £500,000 property might have £20,000-£30,000 in chattels (compared to £8,000-£10,000 unfurnished), producing a refund of £1,000-£1,500 instead of £400-£500. This moves many properties from "marginally worth it" to "definitely worth it."

This is particularly relevant for:

• Buy-to-let properties sold as furnished investments — see our BTL refund guide
• Properties bought from elderly sellers who included furniture in the sale
• Properties sold with full contents as part of a probate or estate sale

The breakeven calculation

Here's a simple way to decide whether to use a claims firm or handle it yourself:

Our recommendation