At £473,000, Oxford is one of the most expensive cities in this list — just under the £500,000 first-time-buyer relief ceiling, and comfortably above it for anyone paying slightly more than the city average. High-value university-city property also sees a meaningful share of corporate and investment-vehicle purchases.
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. Oxford's average property price is £473,000 (ONS UK House Price Index, May 2026 (provisional)) — enter your own price above for an exact SDLT figure.
Yes — Oxford's average price (£473,000, ONS, May 2026 provisional) is close to the £500,000 ceiling above which first-time-buyer relief stops applying altogether. A first-time buyer paying even slightly more than the city average in Oxford can lose relief completely and pay standard rates on the whole price.
No — SDLT bands are set nationally (England / NI (SDLT)), not by city. Oxford doesn't have its own rates; what varies locally is the average property price, which changes how much tax a typical purchase attracts.