able to claim CGT relief?

[markck01]

Please can anyone tell us if we might be able to claim CGT relief based on the following?

Mark and Beverley jointly own a UK property (“Property A”) that we plan to sell in the 2017/2018 tax year. We are seeking clarification on what Principal Private Residence (PPR) Relief might be used to offset any Capital Gains Tax (CGT) that might be due on the sale of Property A.

In late 1994 we sold our main home just before we left the UK for Mark to work overseas on temporary assignment with his UK employer. Mark’s employer provided accommodation where he was working so we did not purchase a new main home.

In 1998 Mark’s employer moved him to a new temporary assignment in a different country and Mark’s employer continued to provide overseas accommodation. However, or son was to be based in the UK whilst attending school, so Beverley (and sometimes Mark) needed to be in the UK regularly to be with him. We also became aware that Mark’s employer required us to keep a residence in the UK in case of emergency repatriation etc. As a result, in July 1998 we purchased a new main home (i.e. Property A).

Since 1998 Property A has been kept fully furnished, never rented out, for the sole use of us and our son whenever in the UK, on leave, between two further temporary overseas assignments etc.

In March 2010 Mark’s employer required him to return to the UK, but to work and to live in a different part of the country. Because of the distances involved we were unable to live in Property A so we rented a house and eventually purchased a new main home in September 2010 (“Property B”). But our son (now in full-time employment) continued to reside in Property A.

In July 2016, with retirement in mind, we sold Property B and moved to another part of the UK. We are currently living in a rented house until we can find a suitable home to purchase.

We believe that PPR Relief might be due on a portion of the CGT on Property A because:
- the property was our main home in the UK from July 1998 to March 2010 when we were temporarily living and working overseas;
- it was always Mark’s work, with the same employer throughout, that required us to move overseas and to live away from our main home (i.e. Property A); and
- it was Mark’s work / employer that again required us to live away from Property A upon our return to the UK from March 2010 until July 2016.


Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.