![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HPLMFYZJWEHBOEXK3JZBWATB4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=41831fea3c03ed186824095b6b2a87923136420809cbf1fa0143be430664f5fa&width=400&height=225)
A runner jogs past suburban houses in Lambeth, south London. In May, prices surged to a high of £261,743 on average, according to the Halifax House Price Index, up 9.5 per cent from the same month a year earlier and equal to £22,000 over 12 months.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4IA6AAIO5MS6OQ7GW6DJAVGHVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=74c52cc32ca59913dcecba3cf0303badd6af8b4c4c643c24da4fb3c6afecb65b&width=400&height=225)
Removal vans park along a road in Bath. Britain’s housing market has seen a surge in demand and prices boosted by the stamp duty holiday.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MDVFCZOCTY5RUMLWZPB4GEBDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f51a6123d3a0e7a12f75d36e995d2a19df89762070e1daad11ff31ad34625e9f&width=400&height=225)
Removal staff at Purdys of Cheam. Their crew worked up to 19 hours a day, seven days a week across the Greater London area and beyond to meet soaring demand for removal services in the UK before the end of the stamp duty holiday.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RG7DVKJTT6F7OHM2JSQBIOUOKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f0c4567f28c1f37ba384a7d6578da6c49722d56f9147b68317615f5536c898e&width=400&height=225)
A removals van parked in the village of Askham Richard, North Yorkshire. The tax break was initially set to expire on March 30, but was extended in the March budget.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NXZOLUK4IZ6HUW5ZNFVW6ZWAJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6957b544a142005f0aaafc587d0b04718d17cd8f41f93d6e9c17e8ea622fdbe7&width=400&height=225)
A man looks at houses for sale at an estate agents in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E3DCAI5KLT5ANMISQ7QLTUGGJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec3d1b7590c07fd8e1d2323fd1a052d810199088663f178e1841f4101487c865&width=400&height=225)
Demand for removal vans increased 200 per cent before the deadline, compared to the same time last year, according to website AnyVan.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XBRZZD4CENTGBD56HZTHH34CFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=be100b36101c0ccf94ff09ca136f50e3d7b209fd8737b7721201c7873961955b&width=400&height=225)
Skyscrapers in the City of London beyond residential properties in London. Property prices soared after the tax break was introduced.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HPLMFYZJWEHBOEXK3JZBWATB4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=41831fea3c03ed186824095b6b2a87923136420809cbf1fa0143be430664f5fa&width=400&height=225)
A runner jogs past suburban houses in Lambeth, south London. In May, prices surged to a high of £261,743 on average, according to the Halifax House Price Index, up 9.5 per cent from the same month a year earlier and equal to £22,000 over 12 months.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4IA6AAIO5MS6OQ7GW6DJAVGHVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=74c52cc32ca59913dcecba3cf0303badd6af8b4c4c643c24da4fb3c6afecb65b&width=400&height=225)
Removal vans park along a road in Bath. Britain’s housing market has seen a surge in demand and prices boosted by the stamp duty holiday.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MDVFCZOCTY5RUMLWZPB4GEBDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=f51a6123d3a0e7a12f75d36e995d2a19df89762070e1daad11ff31ad34625e9f&width=400&height=225)
Removal staff at Purdys of Cheam. Their crew worked up to 19 hours a day, seven days a week across the Greater London area and beyond to meet soaring demand for removal services in the UK before the end of the stamp duty holiday.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RG7DVKJTT6F7OHM2JSQBIOUOKM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f0c4567f28c1f37ba384a7d6578da6c49722d56f9147b68317615f5536c898e&width=400&height=225)
A removals van parked in the village of Askham Richard, North Yorkshire. The tax break was initially set to expire on March 30, but was extended in the March budget.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NXZOLUK4IZ6HUW5ZNFVW6ZWAJQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6957b544a142005f0aaafc587d0b04718d17cd8f41f93d6e9c17e8ea622fdbe7&width=400&height=225)
A man looks at houses for sale at an estate agents in Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E3DCAI5KLT5ANMISQ7QLTUGGJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec3d1b7590c07fd8e1d2323fd1a052d810199088663f178e1841f4101487c865&width=400&height=225)
Demand for removal vans increased 200 per cent before the deadline, compared to the same time last year, according to website AnyVan.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XBRZZD4CENTGBD56HZTHH34CFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=be100b36101c0ccf94ff09ca136f50e3d7b209fd8737b7721201c7873961955b&width=400&height=225)
Skyscrapers in the City of London beyond residential properties in London. Property prices soared after the tax break was introduced.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HPLMFYZJWEHBOEXK3JZBWATB4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=41831fea3c03ed186824095b6b2a87923136420809cbf1fa0143be430664f5fa&width=400&height=225)
A runner jogs past suburban houses in Lambeth, south London. In May, prices surged to a high of £261,743 on average, according to the Halifax House Price Index, up 9.5 per cent from the same month a year earlier and equal to £22,000 over 12 months.
UK's stamp duty deadline causes chaos for property market
Homebuyers rush to complete deals to lock in £15,000 saving
![Alice Haine](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fe79ea096-d70a-4c7a-8b34-9f28e517d833.png?smart=true&auth=20a56d43f6a47fbaa98d84a82aa0cd7f8c79279600608ce4c3b2a3958f7764b9&width=70&height=70)
Alice Haine
29 June, 2021
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