Lib Dem MSP McArthur raised the couple’s case in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, when he asked First Minister John Swinney whether he “agrees with me that this is surely not the intended purpose of the tax?”
Swinney said he would ask Revenue Scotland to investigate the case, adding that he could understand why the rules had created the situation the couple were facing.
Kateryna and Mattias had hoped to relocate this year, but are now considering renting while postponing their plans to buy.
“It’s been quite hard because we’ve had to rethink how we’re approaching buying a property,” Mattias said.
Kateryna, who works in a factory, has found dealing with the issue particularly challenging because English is not her first language.
“For me, it’s difficult,” she said, adding there was little else she could do beyond providing documents from Ukraine.
The couple said they are now “biding our time” while exploring their options.