I am currently living in rented accommodation and intend to purchase a property in Manchester with a value above £500,000. Ten years ago, I inherited a property that I have never lived in, but I rent out. The rented property is jointly owned by myself and my wife. Will I have to pay stamp duty land tax (SDLT) when I purchase the new property? 

Arthur Weller replies: 

If you look at HMRC’s internal manuals on SDLT,  you can see it states: “If such an interest was inherited more than three years before the chargeable transaction, it will count as an interest in another dwelling at the end of the day of the effective date of the chargeable transaction.” In your case, you inherited it ten years ago. The fact that you jointly own the property with your wife does not change things. You will need to pay the additional 3% SDLT when you purchase the new property.