Scotland's housing market was given a shot in the arm today as Kate Forbes announced a tax break in a bid to get the economy moving.
Holyrood's finance secretary announced a package of measures in response to the mini-Budget announcement by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday.
Forbes told MSPs the Land and Buildings Transaction tax (LBTT) threshold would in the coming weeks be raised to £250,000 - a move she claimed would help eight out of 10 property deals in Scotland.
The move came after the UK Government raised the Stamp Duty threshold to £500,000 in England.
But the Tories warned the Scotish housing market could stall without a firm date for when the change in LBTT will take effect.
"I've listened to calls for me to raise the starting threshold for LBTT to help stimulate the housing market and the econony," Forbes said.
"It's important though any change made in Scotland focuses on the particular needs of the Scottish economy.
"I can announce I will increase the starting threshold for residential LBTT from £145,000 to £250,000.
"Because of the time required to prepare legislation, and for Revenue Scotland to be ready to collect and manage the tax, the change will not come into force immediately. But I'll work to enable this to be introduced as soon as possible.
"The rates for the additional dwelling supplement and non-residential LBTT will remain unchanged.
"That means that eight of 10 people purchasing property in Scotland will be taken out of LBTT, and all those purchasing homes above £250,000 will be £2,100 will be better off.
Forbes admitted the move may not help first time buyers so she would also increase funding by £50 for the existing First Home Fund - a shared-equity scheme where first-time buyers can effectively borrow up to £25,000 from the Scottish Government interest-free.
Tory MSP Graham Simpson said there was now a significant disparity in the housing market between Scotland and England.
He said the lack of a firm date for LBTT changes would be a "massive incentive" to delay house sales and could disruption to the market.
Forbes hit back: "The Tories cannot make demands if they deny us the powers and the funding to do it.
"The UK Government changes are welcome. I put on record my welcome for the VAT cut and the wider support for businesses.
"But there is no getting round it - it does bypass devolution."
