At £355,000, Bristol is one of the most expensive cities outside London and the South East, sitting well above the £300,000 first-time-buyer nil-rate threshold — most Bristol first-time buyers pay SDLT on the portion above £300,000, unlike buyers in lower-priced English cities.
Average price source: ONS UK House Price Index, May 2026 (provisional).
England/NI SDLT Bands 2026
| Band | Standard rate | First-time buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% | 0% (up to £300k) |
| £125,001 – £250,000 | 2% | 0% (up to £300k) |
| £250,001 – £925,000 | 5% | 5% (from £300k to £500k, no relief above) |
| £925,001 – £1.5m | 10% | 10% |
| Above £1.5m | 12% | 12% |
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the price, buyer type and region. Bristol's average property price is £355,000 (ONS UK House Price Index, May 2026 (provisional)) — enter your own price above for an exact SDLT figure.
In cash terms, often yes — Bristol's average price (£355,000, ONS, May 2026 provisional) is well above the England/NI standard nil-rate threshold of £125,000 and the £300,000 first-time-buyer band, so a typical Bristol purchase attracts more SDLT than one at the national average price.
No — SDLT bands are set nationally (England / NI (SDLT)), not by city. Bristol doesn't have its own rates; what varies locally is the average property price, which changes how much tax a typical purchase attracts.