*Buyers rush to beat stamp duty change* Stamp duty receipts surged by £40m year-on-year in January, reaching £848m, as homebuyers hurried to complete purchases before tax changes come into force on March 31. The nil-rate threshold will drop from £250,000 to £125,000, significantly increasing costs for buyers, with stamp duty bills on an average-priced home set to more than double from £2,028 to £4,528. First-time buyers will also face a reduced relief threshold, while second-home buyers are already affected by a 5% surcharge. Experts warn that while the Treasury has gained £31.3bn from property taxes since September 2022, further tax hikes could negatively impact the market. Jonathan Stinton, head of mortgage relations at Coventry Building Society, said: “Buying a home is about to get a lot more expensive.”