New stamp duty plea issued

Property firm Badger Holdings has renewed its plea for government action to boost the UK housing market.

Managing director of the company Tony Addinall said the government should follow its US counterpart in bringing forward plans to help the situation, although he noted that the situation across the Atlantic is much worse than it is here.

Mr Addinall said stamp duty measures such as payment holidays for first-time buyers and new bands would help, as would a government-backed mortgage with flexible criteria for first-time buyers.

Whether or not such ideas are taken on board by the government remains to be seen, but it has been reported that prime minister Gordon Brown is considering cuts in stamp duty.

The prime minister has asked chancellor Alistair Darling to look at measures to ease the situation, the Daily Express reports.

People seeking to avoid any stamp duty can do so by building their own home.