Barn Becs

We are just starting to look at whether our barn conversion would qualify for reduced VAT. We have full planning already. I have come across question 15 on the VAT43C form which talks about the conversion creating a new dwelling in its own right. Well ours will be a totally detached residential dwelling, our new family home in fact, that we can live in totally independently, but the issue is the very very tiny cottage we live in at the moment is on the same plot and under the same title. There is also a covenant on the title that says we can't split the holding. Our plan is to use the cottage as ancillary storage to the barn when it is finished as we won't have any storage space in the barn due to the roof structure. In the VAT refunds form guidance they use the term 'disposal' does this actually mean getting rid of/knocking the building down or does it refer to the sale of the property too? i.e does it relate more to the physicality of buildings that perhaps aren't entirely detached, or would our barn also be considered as a building that can't be 'disposed' of separately due to the fact we couldn't sell it separately from the existing building? We intend this to be our forever home so we have no interest in actually splitting off or selling either of the buildings, but we do need reduced VAT to make the conversion feasible financially.

Thanks guys that's most helpful and reassuring

Just so you know these are underground cables I'm referring to, sorry should have mentioned that

We have planning to convert our barn into a residential dwelling, but there are some high voltage power lines running near the existing building. We could carry out the conversion safely without getting too close to them, but we may want to extend the house in the future, in which case they would then be in the way so we think it best to have them moved right out of the way. The energy supplier has quoted with reduced VAT as it's a self build, but we want to make sure that is definitely correct as it isn't actually integral to the build that they are moved and we want to make certain there won't be any come back on us from HMRC. This is all new to me I am afraid so sorry for the ignorance. I have tried ringing the VAT helpline several times to ask, but haven't been able to get through. It would also be handy to know generally if any of our suppliers do make a mistake and charge us reduced rate on something they shouldn't, is it them that is liable with the VAT man or us?

Thanks, yes that had crossed our mind as an option if nothing else comes up. I think this single title thing is going to become an issue as I am also wondering if we won't be able to get reduced VAT on the build because of it too.

Hi, My husband and I are looking for funding to convert our barn into a bigger family home. We already have planning. The cottage we live in now is on the same plot/under the same title and has a covenant on it to stop us splitting the plot up. We are assuming the trust that placed the covenant on it when it was sold to us would want a pay out if we were to have it removed so we want to avoid that. We could borrow against the cottage, but it won't give us enough funds to complete the barn project. Any suggestions?

I am starting a self build project converting a barn with my husband into our new family home. All new stuff to me although my husband and I are practical folk. It will be a big learning curve I am sure, but hopefully from what I have read already on the forum we can get some useful tips on here ??