it would encourage older people to downsize their family homes
Why would it? SDLT isn’t preventing somone from buying a lower value property. They just have to pay tax on it as would any buyer. That’s just a myth that the Telegraph likes to push.
One of the reasons older people don't move to more suitable properties that better meet the physical limitiations of older age is the dearth of suitable properties. True, that dearth means that demand outstrips supply creating high prices such that the smaller property might be just as or more expensive than the larger one.
The solution to that is to build more smaller, accessible homes. The business model of dedicated developers e.g. McCarthy & Stone, isolated apartment blocks on ugly brownfield sites with epic prices and maintenance charges needs to be challenged.
We dont just need “affordable” homes for rent integrated in new developments but smaller accessible homes for older people to buy so they can continue to live in mixed communities.
Anyway, back to the economics of Badenoch’s proposal.
According to the OBR, the plan to abolish stamp duty would put a £24.5 billion a year black hole in Government finances by 2030,
If she is claiming to be giving away £9 billion then that means those who would still have to pay SDLT, would have to be paying significantly more than they do now.