CAL & Movera's comment on HMRC Property transaction figures

30 April 2025

Mark Tosetti, CEO of CAL (part of Movera) comments:

“The sharp rise in residential transactions in March reflects a predictable response to the stamp duty threshold changes coming into effect in April. Buyers moved quickly to complete purchases while the higher nil-rate thresholds were still in place, resulting in one of the biggest month-on-month jumps we’ve seen outside of previous policy deadlines.

"The scale of the increase—over 100% year-on-year and 62% up on February—shows just how sensitive the market remains to tax policy. This was not limited to residential transactions either; the uplift in non-residential activity suggests broader confidence in the market when timelines are clear and incentives are strong.

"As with past stamp duty changes, at times the pressure that can be seen across different areas of the property sector was intense. We hope the whole industry took lessons from earlier surges. We worked closely with our conveyancing partners to prepare early, manage capacity, and avoid bottlenecks. This kind of responsiveness is exactly why Movera exists—to bring together trusted services that keep the market moving efficiently, even under pressure.”