Adding partner to deeds and second home stamp duty

[heartburnhelp]

Hi,

Looking for some advice about a situation which may happen in a couple of years. Couldn't find the answer via google.

My partner and I each own separate homes. We live in my home and his is rented out. In a couple of years there is a chance that I will add him to the deeds of my home so that he can be added to the mortgage (there are benefits to us of doing this and we will get the appropriate legal cover to protect my equity).

However if we go ahead with this then he will also keep ownership of his property and continue to rent it out.

Would he have to pay second home stamp duty in this scenario? Even if I'm adding him to a house I already own, rather than us buying a new one?

Thank you in advance.

I don't know as it applies to your specific circumstances, but I suspect the answer would be yes, he would be liable to pay stamp duty at the prevailing rate (second home in your case). I own a house and got married a few years ago, then when I remortgaged I added my husband to the mortgage which meant I had to transfer legal ownership too and SDLT was chargeable on half of the value of the house at that point.