Owning 2 properties, stamp duty, selling and buying a new residence.

[NeedToGetOuttaHere]

Hi
My DH and I own our family home. We have recently purchased a second property, a flat for our son to live in, it is in my name.
In a few years time we are planning on selling our family home and buying a smaller property. Will we be liable to pay the higher rate/second home stamp duty once again? We just paid it on our second property for our son. We don’t plan on selling this property.

I think you’re ok if you qualify as it being ‘replacement of your main residence’....

Thank you. I just started to worry that every time we move it will count as buying a second property.

No if it's your main residence you don't pay the higher rate no matter how many properties you own. However, if you buy a property as your main residence before you sell your old main residence you do pay the extra, but can claim it back once you sell the old one (I think you have up to two years). You don't pay capital gains on your main residence either.

Thank you.