newhome

I’m not entirely sure what you mean TBH. We didn’t choose the finishing in conjunction with Scotframe as far as I’m aware. The price did vary depending on some of the internal options we chose such as all oak skirting, upgraded internal doors, all oak staircase. We always planned to use block and render, and stone on the front elevation (none of this supplied by Scotframe) so the quote didn’t vary in this regard.

I used Scotframe and received a full inventory down to every nail supplied. There were no surprises and mine included internal doors, skirting, staircase and suchlike, but clearly there is a ton of stuff you need to provide on top of the offering from the TF company. Scotframe didn’t offer frame erection back then but this may have changed.

If you really can’t get them to yield and charge 5% VAT then you could include the 20% invoice with your VAT reclaim. It should be refused by HMRC but it will give you something official from HMRC stating that 5% should have been charged allowing you to give it another go. An example of the letter HMRC sends is in this post (reason code 1). This is for a new build so you will get something slightly different for a conversion. https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/6851-a-guide-to-the-vat-reclaim-process/?do=findComment&comment=115967

I got a G but unfortunately didn’t appeal it. Wish I had.

It’s not ‘exempt’ (in HMRC language), it’s either VAT reclaimable via the DIY Housebuilders’ scheme if you buy supply only or should be zero rated if you arrange for supply and fit. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/goods-and-services-you-can-claim-for-under-the-vat-diy-scheme#V

I mostly use the dryer for everything. The weather in Scotland and living by the sea invariably means that it either rains or is blowing a gale (sometimes both) for most of the year. I won’t have wet washing hanging in the house so I use the dryer. During the current (but possibly short lived) sunny period I have hung stuff outside a couple of times.

New builds are excluded. You may be eligible if you’re renovating.

If you’re a new build you aren’t eligible anyway.

This is only for England currently too. There has been nothing announced for Scotland so I assume that they will not be offering these grants.

Self builders are excluded (not unexpectedly IMO) ”New-build domestic properties and non-domestic properties are not eligible.” Renovations could well qualify.

From a female perspective I’d be walking the 6 minutes! Nothing would persuade me to use an on-site loo on a building site, urinal or otherwise. I’d rather pee in a bush! You may of course get some females who can do this.

As in how long you have to live in the property for in order for the exemption to be valid? If yes then it’s 3 years from the date of the completion certificate.

Added to say that if the receipt you has includes VAT it must show a VAT registration number surely? Can’t you just send that in and state that you purchased from the auction house?

You will need an invoice (or receipt) detailing the seller, their VAT number, address etc. Can’t you ask the auctioneer for a VAT invoice?

That’s just the way it is though. Everyone who is renovating a dwelling that has been empty for more than 2 years also has this constraint, ie they have to use a VAT registered builder to benefit from any VAT reduction.

I didn’t use Amtico but I used Karndean throughout the ground floor in my previous house. We used the range with the best wear layer and had it professionally laid. It still looked amazing after nearly 10 years when we moved, and we had a number of dogs walking / doing handbrake turns on it. I wanted it here but the OH wanted tiles / engineered oak instead. I would certainly choose it again when I move.

To be honest people will purchase most other things anyway I imagine. It’s the sector most struggling that has the focus which is right in my view.

You won’t be reclaiming 15% on materials. For ‘eligible conversions’ you will be charged 5% VAT by VAT registered builders for labour and supply & fit jobs. Your builder will need to be satisfied that your conversion meets the criteria to charge 5% VAT. It’s his decision, not yours, as it’s his risk if HMRC don’t accept the criteria he puts forward in his VAT return (although he could still come after you for the underpaid VAT if HMRC reject the 5% criteria). If you buy materials yourself you need to pay 20% VAT. If your conversion is eligible you can reclaim the VAT paid; both the 5% paid to the contractor and the 20% paid on materials purchased yourself. I don’t think that your project will qualify for the reclaim scheme however due to this section in the reclaim form notes: Have you carried out works to a building that has previously been lived in? A building has been lived in if it has previously been used as a dwelling. This means that the building has been adapted or designed for use as someone’s home and has been used in this way. The living accommodation need not have been self­contained or designed to modern standards. Buildings that have been used as dwellings will not only include houses and blocks of flats but will also include the following: public houses and shops where any private living accommodation for the landlord, owner, manager or staff is not self­contained – normally because part of the living accommodation, such as the kitchen, is contained within the commercial areas rather than the private areas The conversion of any of these types of property will not be eligible under the Scheme unless the 10­ year rule applies

From experience previously it was retailers, so Ikea and the like, that sell their goods including VAT that didn’t change their prices immediately (they did that when the rate rose too). Businesses that quote excluding VAT such as your example will be unaffected (assuming they don’t increase their prices). So the ‘better for who’ comment meant if you buy from a retailer that keeps their prices the same as the VAT recovery will be less. Maybe that won’t happen this time anyway. It was over 10 years ago that the VAT rate dropped previously. On that occasion the reduced rate applied for 13 months.

You should get the VAT back on eligible materials on a new build so it doesn’t make much difference in the end, although it means that you have to shell out less VAT up front. It should be a good thing for materials that are not eligible for VAT reclaim or if you are renovating rather than doing a self build. Assuming that the retailers don’t adjust the core price to suit. When I did my self build I ended up paying 3 different VAT rates; 15%, 17.5% and 20%. Some retailers left their gross prices the same regardless of that however. I think Ikea may have done from memory.

If you have CIL in your area don’t do a thing on site until you have fully understood the rules.

Great news! It’s been a long time coming!

The evidence I quoted above is the type of evidence HMRC may ask the builder to supply. Utility bills aren’t evidence of anything. You could have PV or a generator for one thing. If you or anyone else is on the electoral roll there then it will be challenging. You can update this here https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote You should also formally write to the council to say that the property is empty. Ultimately however it will be down to what the builder will accept as evidence and whether HMRC are happy with that evidence.

Yes, this. And if HMRC aren’t happy with the evidence supplied the builder will be liable for the additional VAT and may come after the customer for the additional money.

You have to prove that the property has been empty for 2 years immediately before you start the work. The proof needed needed will be documents such as Electoral Roll and Council Tax records, utility bills, notification from the Empty Property Officer in local authorities etc. This will be provided by you to the VAT registered builder who will reduce labour and supply & fit arrangements to 5% VAT. I doubt that anyone will even connect the SE report to the physical work and there would be nothing to stop anyone from getting surveys before deciding whether to move ahead with a renovation or not anyway. As long as you have solid documentation to prove that the property has been empty and the builder is happy with it I can’t see that a builder will have an issue with charging reduced VAT. It is they who have to show the evidence to HMRC, not you.