Madam, - Edie Wynne (February 2nd) calls for the Government to review stamp duty for owner occupiers.
While first-time buyers are currently given preferential treatment no distinction is made between other owner-occupiers and investors. If stamp duty was payable only on the difference between the sale and prices for owner occupiers selling their main residence and trading up, it would lead to greater flexibility in the housing market. Older people would also be able to trade down without incurring stamp duty.
This flexibility in the market could reduce congestion in the cities as people would no longer face a huge stamp duty bill for moving closer to their workplaces. - Yours, etc,
GERALDINE O'DWYER, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
