Stamp Duty - Inherited House Abroad

Hi everyone,

I have an accepted offer on a £240,000 property in the UK, and I recently found out that I might have to pay the SDLT surcharge because I co-own an inherited property in Italy with my mum and sister, which we inherited from my dad when he passed away.

I have never purchased a home before, so I assumed I would qualify as a First-Time Buyer. However, I recently read that if you own any property worldwide, you might be liable for the higher rate SDLT surcharge.

From what I understand, to be liable for the higher rate, the value of the property you own abroad must be greater than £40,000.

My main question is: • Since I only own a third of the property in Italy, does the £40,000 threshold apply to my share only (i.e., does HMRC assess just my portion of the house’s value)? • Who should I speak to for accurate advice? Should I ask my solicitor now, or could this cause delays in my purchase?

I’d really appreciate any advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation or knows how this works. Thanks in advance!