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Statistics, insight and analysis covering enterprise, small businesses, entrepreneurs and support for business.

• Updated: 5 July 2016

How to buy a home: preparing to buy, deciding on a home, making offers, conveyancing, paying Stamp Duty Land Tax and making complaints.

• Overview

  Buying a home takes about 5 months on average. The process can take longer…

• Preparing to buy

  When you decide you want to buy a home, you may need to get a mortgage to…

• Deciding on a home

  There are different ways to own a property. Leasehold and freehold…

• Making an offer

  Before you make an offer, check: what the property is worth the number of…

• Transferring ownership (conveyancing)

  Once the offer is accepted, the seller is responsible for drawing up a…

• Tax

  You may need to pay: Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) when you buy a home in…

• Making a complaint

  You can make a complaint to a company involved in the sale if you’re…

How and when you'll pay Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) or Stamp Duty when you buy shares electronically or using a stock transfer form

• Overview

  When you buy shares, you usually pay a tax or duty of 0.5% on the…

• Buying shares electronically

  You’ll pay Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) if you buy shares electronically…

• Buying shares using a stock transfer form

  You must pay Stamp Duty on your shares if: you buy shares through a stock…

• Special share arrangements

  You pay Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) or Stamp Duty at 1.5% if you…

A series of publications relating to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act.

• Updated: 1 July 2015

How the First Homes scheme works, who is eligible, how to apply and the rules for managing a First Homes property after you buy one.

A guide to how the government is supporting VCSE organisations.

• Updated: 20 November 2025

Steps to help grow your business - finding finance, mentors, increasing sales and developing products and services

Buy your housing association home - including how to apply, who is eligible, discounts available and where to get help and advice.

Full list of successful bids from the Community Ownership Fund.

• Updated: 23 December 2024

A Smart Data prototype that generates “Digital Sale Ready Packs” to make it easier to buy and sell a home has been named the winner of the Smart Data Challenge Prize by the Department for Business and Trade.

• Updated: 28 November 2025