Should you sell your investment property before 5 April 2020?

By Debbie Franklin, Director of Tax and property tax specialist

HMRC has announced significant changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Private Residence Relief (PPR).

Where an individual has at some point during ownership lived in the property as their home, they are entitled PPR on the last period of deemed occupation, even if they have not lived there. From 6 April 2020, the government has reduced this period from 18 months to 9 months. This will see the gain attributable to those additional 9 months subject to CGT.

In addition to the entitlement to PPR was lettings relief which could exempt up to a further £40,000 of capital gain per owner. From April 2020, this will only be available if the owner was also in occupation at the time of the letting.

If you have a property (not held in a company) which you have lived in previously we can calculate to see if a sale pre 5 April 2020 is advisable.