BTC Builder

I'm starting my build in a few weeks, and the only personnel I don't have on board yet is a plumber. I suspect I'm putting them off because I've told them I want a price for labour only (vat free obviously) and I'll get materials, whatever they want. I've explained that I want to be in complete control of vat return to HMRC and I don't want to be waiting on anyone for receipts or for them to do their vat returns as it's time sensitive. The less points of failure, the better. As the plumbers quite rightly want to spec the ASHP and underfloor heating, they probably can't be bothered with me getting involved in purchasing the materials. I was wondering what approaches others have taken in a self managed build (I'm the builder and will be purchasing everything at trade price) in approaching plumbers and the best way to go about it?

The cynic in me worries that this is another booby trap. On the one hand, it says granted on the portal. On the other, the actual decision letter is not, nor has it been sent to my architect. This is one of the reasons I started this thread, is this potentially an elaborate loophole? I'll email them tomorrow about this very issue.

Wow, I can only imagine that paranoia. My CIL officer has been neutral at best, certainly not helpful. The email debacle "oh but we've sent it three times now" has lowered my trust in them even more. I can receive all emails from them other than the one that contains the documents I need, how very odd 🤔 When the documents came through the post, I emailed for confirmation that my exemption was in place and all I got back was "you need to follow the steps laid out in the documents we sent you". I don't trust them at all.

I don't actually need the manufactured joists, building regs drawing states 220x75mm c24 at 5.3m long, 400 centers. That equates to 75 of them which will come in at £3.5k At that price, I wondered perhaps if manufactured joists may be a better option. I imagine a company making them would be able to spec them themselves with a layout plan.

Thanks to everyone for replying. The prices I quoted are the best available from shopping around locally. It won't be going any cheaper. I was wondering if anyone knew of other merchants or wholesalers I don't know who would deliver nationwide. For example, I need 90 37.5m insulated boards, I cannot find anyone via Google search who even comes close to £31 each. I need 100 regular 8x4 plasterboard, I cannot find anyone for less than £8.30 each. I need 140 packs of 100mm pir (4 per pack). 6000 concrete blocks 2000 areated blocks A supplier for steel web floor joist, I've never used them before.

I'm wondering if anyone can put my mind at rest or perhaps warn me of any potential pitfalls/booby traps the council will want me to fall in to. Right off the bat, it's my belief that CIL is a scam with regards to self build exemption. If you're exempt, you should be exempt. The fact that if a digger turns up you're immediately invalidated without the correct paperwork is a travesty for ill-informed builders. With that out of the way, the council wanted £44k for my self build. I was able to reduce this down to £30k when the demolition of the existing property was taken into consideration. Apparently, my exemption form was sent to the council with my planning application from the architect. To this day, I've never seen this form, it's not viewable on the planning portal. I suppose I should ask the architect to send me a copy. When planning permission was granted, the council were straight in touch wanting an assumption of liability. This is when they told me verbally over the phone that they already had my exemption form with my planning application. After sending the liability form, they wouldn't email me confirmation of my exemption. They claimed that they'd emailed it to me several times, which I never received and I gave them an alternative email address which they also claimed to have sent to, which I also never received. This went back and forth for around a week so I demanded they sent the exemption confirmation through the post or I'd just turn up at the council building for someone to place it in my hand. Anyway, it eventually arrived through the post and it clearly says in bold letters that I'm liable for £0 due to a deduction of £30k self build relief. I know I need to send them a commencement form which I will do several weeks early, but as the title says, I'm terrified of falling into booby trap and then the council being like, "Ha, gotcha, that will be £30k please, payable within the next 14 days." If I were to need to pay CIL the project is dead, there's no budget or contingency for it. Does it sound right the the exemption form went in with the application and liability was accepted after? Since planning was approved, I've sent a non material amendment (also approved) to add a window at the back and reposition 3 other windows. The size and design of the property did not change. Could this affect anything? Side note, I didn't receive conformation that the non material amendment was approved, nor is it on the planning portal. It simply says approved under the status. Any other shenanigans I should be aware of? Sorry for going on so much and thanks to anyone who has made it this far!

Hi everyone I'm starting my self build in a month or so and was wondering if anyone could recommend cheap suppliers? The house is rendered, in particular I'm wondering if anyone knows of anywhere that could beat the following prices: Medium density blocks - 90p each 7N areated blocks - £2.70 each 100m cavity pir - £29 for a pack of 4 12mm plasterboard - £8.30 each 37.5mm insulated plasterboard - £31 each 200mm loft insulation - £27.50 per roll. Any recommended suppliers for steel web floor joists? I'm doing the work myself. Normally I price up local merchants for my jobs but with this being for myself and budget tight, I want to scour the nation for the best prices. I'm in the North West but with the quantities I'll be needing (3500 sqft plus garage) I'd hope that I'd be eligible for nationwide delivery. Thanks to anyone who can help, it is much appreciated.