KTB

He is asking that we pay the VAT on the windows/doors he is importing from Poland. Don't think we should be paying anything, it's his company that is liable to defer or pay it, then sort it out. We are a new build and therefore not responsible for VAT on supply/fit.

Our window supplier/installer has just turned up with "bad news". The lorry is due to be loaded on the 20th from Poland with all our windows and bifolds etc. He is now saying he's been advised that we have to pay the VAT and duty on this upfront and then hopefully reclaim it later. Surely, as a new build, we are not liable for any VAT on this and the UK already has a trade deal with Poland as part of the EU so there will be no VAT due on this job? Confused.

I'm looking for a reliable supplier for painted steel beams, to support my garage roof - Central Scotland. Anybody got any ideas, please? I'll not get started on renewables companies or the government scheme administrators until later 😠

Mainly kingspan type, sheets of stuff - Entire roof inside, attic walls, upper floor, between floors and the whole kitchen area at the front of the build. Then the underfloor, before the screed - Its a lot.

We finally have the roof membrane on and the kit builders are heading off into the sunset in the next few days. 22 months from submitting our pre planning application. Happy to share experiences by PM if anybody is looking for specifics. Now, the hard work starts - Cant say we're looking forward to the rest of the insulation arriving - Anybody with any tips for DIY cutting/installation welcome.

Interesting - We have had some scary quotes for windows (Even worse with fitting) - Might wait a week and go back to them

Seems to defeat the purpose of having an external body monitoring what's going on? "Just make your own photos (Which can easily be doctored using Photoshop) and send us a random selection" Bizzare

Its the local council building control - Think they only have 1/2 officers, so they aren't doing any inspections. the reply so far has simply been "send us the photos", without specifying exactly what they want to see? I'm not happy about simply sending random photos without prior warning of what they're looking for.

Building control have said they aren't doing any inspections and have asked me to upload them pictures of each stage of the build. Does anyone have a definitive list of what I should be photographing - And, Not? This is based on their Domestic compliance plan document. Commencement Foundation Drainage/Substructure Superstructure Completion Cheers

Did you run it into the house via the foundations a la sewage, water and mains electrics?

Dave If you don't mind me asking, what cable did you run into the house and using what ducting please? I am pouring slab on Monday and have tomorrow to run something in - We have a BT pole in the corner of our plot, about 40m from the corner of the house and the village we live in is fibre to cabinet only - They don't do fibre to house yet 😒 Cheers K

This has been asked before in other areas of the site, but can anyone definitively answer at what stage we will need to purchase a structural warranty if we have the SER registration - Certificate of design. Can we purchase one later for selling purposes, if required? Or even do without? Confused.

The whole of the energy connection job, including digging up another pavement, the connection and the reinstatement, is a quarter the price of digging up 2m of pavement for sewage apparently.

Ok, since when did digging up 2m of pavement and 2m of cul de sac to connect to a sewer cost circa 7 grand ?? not including the trench and pipework to the pavement and the actual connection work (Scottish Water). Seems like the big companies with the relevant tickets don't want the small job, so simply make up a price to put you off, unless you are an idiot and accept.

Have put out tender to 3 - One reply, saying they will get back - They haven't. The others didn't bother.

Does anyone have any advice re: using spreader plates upstairs? Would we be better trying to get pipes installed in screed? What are peoples thoughts please?

Ok folks, at last our build is getting real. After hassle upon hassle with the Local Authority for over a year, we finally have planning and are about to submit our building warrant through Fleming Homes. Now it's time to get suppliers and installers sorted out. So, does anyone have recommendations for the following please? We are in Central Scotland. Air source pump supply/install. Solar Panel supply/install Underfloor heating supply/Installer. Top premium Spanish slate suppliers. Staircase supplier. Any other advice welcome at this, pre breaking ground, stage.

Update - Planning approved, onwards and upwards to building warrant.

Small claims court - There's nothing wrong with the job you undertook in good faith. It's the ongoing question for small businesses tho' - Deposit, materials up front and staged payments or not?

Surprise, surprise - Yesterday's email request for an update comes back saying the officer's boss is on holiday until next Monday. They seem to equate hours to months at the Council. More than 100 days past their statutory 60 now and counting.

We got no feedback at all for months, then a request for a drainage survey (which had already been carried out for the previously approved application), then a further series of excuses and a blame game about why the case wasn't progressing. Took it up the chain of command and the blame was transferred to a sub dept (statutory consultee), who hadn't finished a report. Ended up at the head of service, who got the officer's boss to assure us that all was well and things would progress. That was two weeks ago and - Nothing again. It's been frustrating to say the least. We can't have a conversation with anybody, they wouldn't reply to our emails - only our agents to begin with. Then they gave up on them too and we had to push them every week.

OK, so we put in a pre planning application for a plot which had existing planning for 4 houses in Jan 2021, with a planning condition of building a cat 6 access "adopted" road to service the plots. The purpose of the pre planning app was to see if we could access the plot via an alternative entrance (an existing farm vehicle access from main road), bypassing the planning requirement and making the build financially viable for a single house. Eventually got the approval report after 4 months, after all the usual "working form home', "COVID" and "Staff off long term" runarounds. We are now sitting 13 months from our start date, still waiting for full planning (Submitted in August) to be granted, despite being informed unofficially that it was a done deal. We can't get an address, can't get water or sewage connected to the site, can't break ground, engage contractors or apply for the RHI (finishes at the end of this month apparently) for our heat pump and solar panels. Lord help us when it comes to the building warrant - next. On a more positive note, we will be posting in various other threads, asking for advice on all the next aspects of our build - Once it actually kicks off.All advice re: thumb twiddling activities in the interim welcome.

No woodworking - I wish !! I am purely a DIY enthusiast, who "potters around", so somewhere for all my kit and some benches will be fine.

Thanks - Exactly the advice we need re: VAT reclaim, cheers. Will probably retro build a separate workshop now that we think of it.

Yes, unofficially, and I have a relative who is a 'leccy so we can do it if given a chance.