Are we 'first-time buyers' for the purposes of stamp duty? | Money | guardian.co.uk

Are we 'first-time buyers' for the purposes of stamp duty? | Money | guardian.co.uk

Q I am looking for some clarity on whether my partner and I would qualify as first-time buyers. Do we both need never to have owned a house to qualify for the current stamp duty exemption up to £250,000? I have never owned a property or had a mortgage, so clearly I qualify. However, my partner did have a mortgage about 10 years ago. (I don't know if this will make a difference as to whether we qualify as first-time buyers or not, but he lost his job and defaulted on the mortgage. All debts were settled years ago.)