First-time buyers among tens of thousands in England and NI rushing to complete purchases before April

• Stamp duty: ‘74,000 in England to miss deadline’ amid removals chaos

“We just don’t have the money,” says Ben of the extra £6,000 to be found if the newlyweds don’t get the keys to their two-bed terrace before the stamp duty cliff-edge at the end of this month.

The special needs teacher and his partner Claire, a human rights solicitor, are among the more than 75,000 buyers in England and Northern Ireland who will have to pay more stamp duty if their purchase is delayed until April.