newhome

No, because those things are specifically not eligible. From the claim notes: Are you claiming for any other building(s)? In general, you cannot claim for any work that has been carried out on other buildings within the site as these do not form part of the eligible building work. Nor can your claim include buildings that are yet to be constructed. This means you cannot claim VAT back on any materials used on the construction of: • rooms above or attached to a detached garage • detached workshops or storerooms • sheds • stables • detached swimming pools • annexes (such as ‘granny’ annexes)–that cannot be disposed of or used separately from another dwelling because the annexe is not ‘designed as a dwelling’ in its own right.

That’s a really good outcome for you, and really useful information for others. Thank you. I will put a link to your post in the VAT reclaim guide on here as it contains useful details about building 2 properties for family members that aren’t very clear from HMRC’s own guidance. Out of interest whose name is the land in? Is it plots owned by separate family members?

I know of a few that have been a bit above that. Mine was only x 34 but still enough to persuade me to take the cash. This can put you up to (or above) the lifetime allowance however whereas defined benefit pensions are only valued as x 20 when assessed against the lifetime allowance.

Yep, I know that but if I broach the subject it will start an argument. I’ll ask my brother to do it then the argument is with him ?

You clearly ain't met my mother!! . Honestly it would be wasted breath as she clearly will expect to escape that fact! Probably doesn't help that both her and my father's parents (and my father) were all perfectly capable of making their own decisions right up until they died. So it clearly won't happen to her either (in her view).

I think there would be zero chance of my mother agreeing to an LPA. Waste of time even having that conversation with her.

We did it here in Scotland and I think they suggested an £80 donation to charity for doing the will so that's what we did.

I was just really clarifying for those who may not have been sure. I knew you would know as you're no longer a VAT reclaim virgin

We have had several discussions in the past about how to protect large purchases against the supplier going into administration, with the favoured option being to pay a small deposit by credit (not debit) card if at all possible that will protect purchases of between £100 (per item not total invoice amount) and £30k. This protection is provided by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Often however it seems that the supplier won't accept a credit card payment so what to do instead? I came across this website and wondered if this has a place in the self build community? It's neither a recommendation nor an advert for the company as I haven't used them and nor have I heard of them before, but the fees seem pretty reasonable (assuming there are no hidden costs). The supplier will have to agree to the arrangement too of course. Their website claims that they are FCA regulated. So caveat emptor but it may be worth a closer look the next time you have to pay a supplier a large amount of money in advance of goods being delivered. https://www.transpact.com/

I hope not to be like that as most people do I imagine. Maybe we should all look at making a living will too. My mother is 85, still living alone independently and went on 3 foreign holidays last year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that's me too!

I don't have kids either but even if I did I would want to leave myself comfortably off to ensure that I could afford to pay for a decent care home if needed, and not some shithole I got shoved in because I'd given my money away to ensure that my estate wasn't subject to inheritance tax once I was dead and wouldn't care anyway. My mother always said not to expect a big inheritance as she intended to spend her money in retirement, and that's fine because she (and my father) worked for her own house / money, just as I am working for mine. I will be downsizing to a smaller property when I retire, although probably more expensive due to location change.

You can only claim back VAT on materials of course, and only then if the invoice doesn't include any labour.

Over budget but we have Zip Hydrotaps at work (they're £££) and this is the reason for the temperature being below 100C on their website (but they can be adjusted):

A poor show! Width is always important! ?

Yep, and confirmed here. https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/vat-construction/vconst02740

That’s clearly still etched into your brain ?

It’s still caveat emptor on here of course and the official answer can only come from HMRC (if only they could provide it ....!).

Welcome! There are quite a few members living in Scotland on here. Some pics or plans would be good, then people can get a feel for your project and make suggestions in a more informed way.

I understand that it's 'intent'. If HMRC believe that you have developed the property to sell then you are not eligible, but you could move in, intend to live there forever and then your circumstances might change meaning that you have to sell the property. If they looked into the circumstances clearly a job move or similar would be adequate justification but to build another property of a similar size in a similar location might be a bit suspicious. Anyone could take a chance however. The real killer is CIL as if you have a self build exception you lose the exemption and the full charge is due if you move out within 3 years. No way round that one as far as I can see.

The scheme is for self builders who intend to live in the house (see the notes from the claim form below). People who build with the intention of selling the house count as property developers, not self builders and are not eligible.

No because it was over the 4 years they had to make the adjustment and the scaffolding company had gone bust anyway!

I screwed up both the scaffolding and the crane (with operator) hire. Paid full VAT on both. Was too late to do anything about it once I had aquainted myself with the VAT regs in more detail after joining this forum which is one of the reasons I wanted to write a guide on here to try to help others avoid overpaying.

One of those very grey areas where some people have had success and some not. Luck of the draw I guess when you’re going after something retrospectively.

Still not sure what you’re getting at tbh. Can’t see anyone saying pay the incorrect VAT rate and worry about it later?

Must have been eons ago then as I don’t recall anyone giving this advice. Why on earth would you want to incorrectly pay VAT and risk not getting it back later? The VAT guide on here certainly advises everyone to a. check the VAT rate that should apply to every job / purchase and b. ensure that the trader will apply the right VAT rate.