Have a look at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sdlt/transaction/value.htm. The relevant section is as follows;-

“Calculating the value of the chargeable consideration

The value of the chargeable consideration includes anything paid for assets that form part of the land or property.

These assets can include:

* buildings and structures that are part of the land, such as farm buildings
* fixtures and fittings, including bathroom and kitchen fittings, but not freestanding furniture, carpets or curtains
* intangible assets, such as the value of goodwill attached to a business

It also includes the estimated value of any undertaking to carry out work or services, such as a promise from the vendor to carry out repairs to the property.

The chargeable consideration also includes any VAT payable on the transaction.

Items not included in the chargeable consideration

When the purchase price includes a payment for items that are not part of the chargeable consideration, those items must be valued at a rate reflecting their fair market value. For example, if carpets are included in the sale of a flat, the purchaser and vendor must agree a fair price which reflects their age and quality. This is then subtracted from the price paid to find the chargeable consideration.

The same rules apply if moveable assets such as machinery are included in the sale of a business. The portion of the purchase price allocated to such assets must be seen as fair and reasonable. ”

The relevant bit for you is “Items not included in chargeable consideration”. Basically, what you can do is agree a separate price with the sellers for “chattels”, which is deducted from the purchase price and not included in the calculation for Stamp Duty Land Tax. As you can see, you can agree separate payments for high value items, such as carpets or curtains, but they must be fair and reasonable prices. Your solicitor can discuss this possibility with you.

Hope this helps!

Gemma