Yes — any SDLT refund you're owed is worth claiming. The refund size varies by property value and case type, but the claim process is the same: specialists work on a no-win, no-fee basis at any refund size; the DIY Claim Pack is an alternative if you'd prefer to handle it yourself.
Below: what to expect at each price band.
The quick reference table
Here's the summary. The detail for each bracket follows below.
| Property price | Typical refund |
|---|---|
| Under £250,000 | £0-£50 |
| £250,000-£500,000 | £100-£600 |
| £500,000-£925,000 | £500-£2,000 |
| £925,000-£1,500,000 | £2,000-£6,000 |
| £1,500,000+ | £5,000-£15,000+ |
At every band, specialists work no-win, no-fee; the DIY Claim Pack is an alternative if you'd prefer self-serve.
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: small or no refund
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 — so refunds in this band are small or nil.
Whichever route you choose, the process is the same — specialists work no-win, no-fee; the DIY Claim Pack is an alternative if you'd rather handle it yourself.
First-time buyers
If you bought under £300,000 as a first-time buyer, you paid 0% SDLT. There's no overpayment to claim regardless of chattel values. First-time buyers only benefit from chattels claims if they paid above £300,000.
£250,000-£500,000: small refunds typical
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.
Whichever route you choose, the process is the same — specialists work no-win, no-fee; the DIY Claim Pack is an alternative if you'd rather handle it yourself.
£500,000-£925,000: meaningful refunds
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.
Whichever route you choose, the process is the same — specialists work no-win, no-fee; the DIY Claim Pack is an alternative if you'd rather handle it yourself.
£925,000-£1,500,000: substantial refunds
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.
Whichever route you choose, the process is the same — specialists work no-win, no-fee; the DIY Claim Pack is an alternative if you'd rather handle it yourself.
Additional property surcharge
If you paid the 5% additional property surcharge (buy-to-let or second home), the effective marginal rate on chattels is even higher: 10% + 5% = 15%. A £30,000 chattel deduction at the 15% effective rate saves £4,500. This makes the claim significantly more valuable for BTL investors in this bracket.
£1,500,000+: largest refunds
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.
Whichever route you choose, the process is the same — specialists work no-win, no-fee; the DIY Claim Pack is an alternative if you'd rather handle it yourself.
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 — a substantially larger refund for the same property.
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
How each route's economics compare
Specialist firms work on a no-win, no-fee basis. Their typical fee is 25-40% of any successful refund, charged only when the claim succeeds. The DIY Claim Pack is a flat £19.99 — paid upfront, you keep 100% of any refund you go on to receive.
Net £ in your pocket therefore varies by refund size. A larger refund means a larger absolute specialist fee, but also a larger absolute net amount. A smaller refund means a smaller fee in pounds, but also a smaller net amount. Specialists don't turn down small claims — they work on the same no-win, no-fee terms at any refund size.
Which route makes sense for you depends on whether you'd rather pay a flat £19.99 and handle the claim yourself, or pay a percentage only on success and have the specialist handle the claim end-to-end. Both routes work at any refund size.
Which route to take
For most buyers, a specialist firm working on a no-win, no-fee basis is the right route. There is no upfront cost, no fee if the claim doesn't succeed, and the firm handles the paperwork, evidence pack, and HMRC correspondence end-to-end.
The DIY Claim Pack at £19.99 is the alternative if you'd prefer to handle the claim yourself and keep the full refund. It suits buyers who are comfortable with HMRC forms, have time to gather their own evidence, and want self-serve control of the process. Whichever route you choose, the claim process at HMRC is the same.
If you want professional help, use a qualified specialist rather than responding to an unsolicited letter.
Find out what you're owed
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