Yesterday, new statistics showed that our changes to stamp duty introduced last year have benefited over 180,000 households, helping more people achieve the dream of home ownership.

We are giving practical help to first-time buyers, reducing the burden that they face in purchasing their first home. Almost every first time buyer – around 95 per cent – will benefit from our changes, with around 4 in 5 paying no stamp duty at all.

Our changes will save the average first-time buyer £2,300.

Our changes to stamp duty are just one of the steps we have taken to fix the housing market, helping people get on the housing ladder and have the security of their own home.

Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point commented:

‘It is fantastic news that first-time buyers in Castle Point are taking advantage of our cut to stamp duty to buy their first home’

‘This comes on top of news last week that we have delivered 163 homes in Castle Point and nationally more homes in all but one of the last 30 years - helping more people to get on the housing ladder and have a safe and secure home.’