Treasury ministers have removed a ‘major obstacle' to the provision of affordable social housing across local authorities, according to CIPFA. The accounting body said the decision to change the rules over stamp duty land tax (SDLT) relief, tucked away in the small print of chancellor Alistair Darling's Budget on 22 April, could have a major beneficial impact on new building programmes. Following the change, arm's length management organisations (ALMOs) – which manage stock on behalf of local authorities – can develop and build new housing stock without paying SDLT on prospective purchases. The move brings ALMOs into line with the way registered social landlords (RSLs) and other local housing providers are created under the law – something CIPFA has been demanding for some time. Ian Curruthers, CIPFA's director of policy and technical, said: ‘What might seem to be a small change in the tax rules may well have a big impact on the provision of affordable housing. ALMOS currently manage more than one million council homes and there is a great need to build more.'