By Prime Resi
Black Brick Managing Partner Camilla Dell was quoted in PrimeResi’s analysis of the potential property market implications of Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster as MP for Makerfield, and his emergence as frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader — and potentially Prime Minister.
The piece examined Burnham’s long-standing support for a land value tax (LVT) and the abolition of stamp duty, and what a Burnham premiership could mean for residential property taxation at the top of the market.
Camilla welcomed the principle while urging caution on the detail:
“As with all things tax related, the devil is always in the detail. Any changes to abolish stamp duty will be welcomed. It’s a tax that disincentivises people to move both up and down the housing ladder.”
She raised concerns about fairness to those who have already paid significant stamp duty, and noted that London appeared to be singled out yet again — already contending with successive stamp duty changes and the forthcoming High Value Council Tax Surcharge due in April 2028:
“What about those people who have already paid hefty stamp duty bills? Are they now expected to start paying 0.48% of the value of their home on top of an already huge stamp duty bill?”
Her sharpest warning centred on the risk of market paralysis:
“The announcement of change could really backfire and cause the entire property market to stall whilst buyers wait for certainty.”
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