What's the latest about the SDLT surcharge for non-residents post-budget 2018?

As I mentioned in my last post, at the beginning of October the PM announced proposals to implement a new SDLT surcharge on foreign buyers of UK residential properties.

It was highly anticipated that further details would be announced in yesterday's budget; but for now all we've been told is that the government will be publishing a consultation in January 2019 on a surcharge of 1% for non-residents buying residential property in England and Northern Ireland.

What a "non-resident" is remains to be seen! Watch this space...