The monthly regulated mortgage survey (RMS) from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) shows that in March, 17,200 first-time buyers paid stamp duty, while 44,700 people moving to a new home also paid the tax.
Michael Coogan, Director General of the CML, said: The RMS shows the proportion of mortgages taken out by first-time buyers is low. With half of them having to pay stamp duty it is clear that tax continues to add to their affordability problems.
The new data also revealed a fall in remortgaging, accounting for only 36 per cent of lending, 5 per cent less than in February this year.
However, as remortgaging has declined, other types of lending, including buy-to-let and further advances, have grown.
Coogan said: Reform of stamp duty is long overdue. If it had been uprated in line with house price inflation since 1997 the threshold would stand at £145,000, helping many more first-time buyers onto the property ladder and into their own homes.
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