In the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, George Osborne announced another measure to help first-time buyers get on the housing ladder. Keen to assist people to buy their own home, which many of his predecessors have done over the years, the Chancellor announced a new 3% additional rate of stamp duty land tax (SDLT) for buy-to-let and second home owners to boost house buying by the young.

Not the fault of rising prices pushing even starter homes beyond the reach of many nor harder to secure mortgages for those on zero hours contracts, the blame was placed firmly at the feet of those who buy properties to rent out, thus draining the market.