newhome

Think I read that it is about 30m2 for piece rates. @nod?

Is it two thirds? @vivienz got it split 50 / 50 and @nod said two thirds hire here. The only reason I query it is because I’ve used the approx figure in the vat guide so would like it to be right. https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/6882-vat-and-scaffolding/?do=findComment&comment=116723

Have you not paid for the scaffolding? Erection / dismantling should be about a third to a half of the cost. The rest hire. Contractors may add on what’s called a risk premium for a fixed price job as this mitigates against them being out of pocket if things go awry. As the work should be very clear at this late stage this shouldn’t be much at all. It may have been higher at the start of the job with more unknowns. Go back and tell him that a risk premium isn’t appropriate so near to the end and to go ahead and provide the fixed price quotes as what’s left should be very easy for experienced trades to estimate for.

The flat rate vat scheme is available to ‘low cost traders’ and as the name suggests they pay HMRC at a fixed rate. This is supposed to make it much more straightforward to work out how much VAT is owed. The problem for traders operating under the scheme is that if they zero rate a job they still have to pay HMRC the flat rate, so not many traders using the scheme will want to work on zero rated jobs. https://www.crunch.co.uk/knowledge/tax/flat-rate-vat-scheme-limited-cost-trader-test/ https://www.gov.uk/vat-flat-rate-scheme

Make sure he has insurance, just in case! Unless you are covered to the hilt.

I'm sorry to hear your news but time to fight back and tomorrow is a new day.

I have an electric system here. It can be very costly, especially if you are dealing with a large space and insulation levels aren't to passive standard (mine aren't). Depends how much PV you can generate but unless you can store some the electric meter will be spinning like crazy whilst the people renting your property have it toasty warm in the evenings just because they can. I am mindful of mine because I pay the bill. If someone else is paying the bill people won't be nearly so careful.

@Onoff's bathroom thread is 78 pages so far. Mind you his has been going for over 2 years and yours is almost half that in 11 weeks .

White nuts need to slack off. I've done this job in my house. Took me fecking hours to get it all together so I feel your pain . Someone else would have done it in seconds I'm sure!

@JSHarris does have 2 addresses (if he's quick ). Wouldn't they notice that ProDave of house A was the same ProDave tester of House B in the same road?

Amazing seeing it go up isn't it! Even though you read about it on here nothing can beat seeing your own go up. From nothing, to almost a house in a couple of days. Timber frame rocks lol.

A few pics to recap but make a mental note of how to reselect a photo you have posted previously.

To do that ZooT look at the bit where you would normally upload a photo. Just below that there is ‘insert other media’ hit that and then ‘insert existing attachment’ then you get every photo you ever posted and page thru until you get to the right one.

@Temp‘s advice about services is good advice. Many people have been stung for 10s of thousands in those areas unexpectedly. For the electric you should be able to get an indicative quote but the question to ask is whether there is capacity to add the property to the existing provision otherwise it’s a step change in terms of costs.

@PeterW any ideas on that one? No spare offcuts to use as upstands I think. Looks like both lengths are used here as worktop.

Don’t go using that sink and splashing water onto the plasterboard without protecting it somehow so add that to the list too. Having friends to stay is always good for getting a crack on so 3 days to sort!

You were trusting! We just had accounts at places like Electric Centre or if they really wanted to use their own supplier they used to call and we would provide payment details over the phone.

I wish you luck! Everyone deserves a bit of a break sometimes. Hope to hear that you are successful and back here asking the self build questions.

@zoothorn if you use the @ sign and then start typing someone’s username immediately following you can select the person you are directing the question at from the list of users. Then they will get a notification that you have directed a question at them @PeterW ?

Can’t help on the planning advice but do put something in writing to your friends outlining what you believe you have agreed to. The best of friendships have come under strain where informal arrangements have gone wrong so whilst it is friendship that has provided you with this opportunity you must view this as a business transaction going forward.

I had one like that. The guy (liquid screed layer) said he wasn’t aware of the zero rated vat scenario (strange as he must have done many new builds surely). I told him I would pay ex vat, he told me he would come back to me if HMRC said it was an issue. I never heard from him again. We’re all rather assuming that @Moira Niedzwiecka has an issue with this seller. He may have just not understood the rules in which case it might be as easy as going back to ask to a new invoice to be raised. It’s always best to have conversations about the vat at the quote stage rather than the invoice stage because the trader may not have accepted the job if it had to be at zero vat. Traders on the flat rate vat scheme for example who will have to pay vat on that transaction regardless. If the majority of a trader’s business is on existing houses they may not be aware of or want the hassle of charging different vat rates for the jobs that have this concession. Unless a trader seems well versed in the vat rules it’s probably best to put something in writing stating that you expect the job to be zero rated and will not be paying vat. As explained in the VAT post you can give them the planning permission or mock up a ‘certificate’ if it helps.

If you add a structure not attached to the main house under PD, say a garage, do you have to inform anyone?

His bathroom won't leak though

Specifically check that they all say 'invoice' and show your name, supplier name, VAT number. All should be good hopefully if they meet that criteria. Good news that you are getting things together now, and yes it will be down to you to drive this now and ensure that the builder knows that you are in the driving seat. Sounds like you are ready to make this happen.

Is it right that you only get PD rights after a house is complete though for permanent structures?