SarahG

I always make sure any invoice from our builder is paid on the same day, that way he knows he can trust us. We also have a lot of trust in him so it has been a good relationship so far and now he is doing work for two of our friends as well. It is important to me that this is a mutually beneficial relationship. Good news is log burner company are all fine with the zero rate VAT, so will do this when they send us the final invoice after work. So now I can go ahead and get the deposit paid and crack on. Kitchen fitter I will talk to again in a few weeks, but I feel I now understand better how it works and why they may be reluctant to do this. We definitely want to use him so hoping we should be able to find a solution that works for us both. Thanks everyone

Thanks @torre for the link to the VAT Notice I was looking for something to send to explain the process better. I've not heard back yet, hopefully I have not scared them off! Definitely wasn't angry or critical. Depending on what they say I will suggest splitting the invoice and the other recommendations. I am more than happy to pay VAT assuming I can claim it back at the end. I really don't want to feel like this is a negative process for the installers, I wish it was a bit easier and everyone understood! We have used a couple of other suppliers and had no issues zero rating, but they tend to be bigger companies though.

Yes, that is what I thought. Thanks for confirming. Email sent with planning permission and CIL relief document, so will see what they say..

Sorry if this is covered elsewhere, but more looking for what other people do in same situation. Our builder is doing majority of work and all parts/labour is zero rated. So all fine. We have bought our own kitchen units (again fine as we can claim back the VAT here), but our kitchen fitter wants to charge VAT to install. Then we are using another company to supply and install our log burner. They also want to charge is VAT. So my question is, as far as I understand I cannot claim back the VAT for either of the install costs here, so even though we should be exempt I will have to pay it. Unless I can persuade them not to charge me VAT in the first place? So far I have not had any luck here, they say we will provide invoice showing VAT breakdown which doesn't really help if I can't claim it back anyway.

Ah thanks, this is great. Sorry not checked on here in a while. I need to try this out, I have photos but no watermarks so really need to figure this out or I know I am saving up a lot of work and problems for myself!

Android also here. It's a Google Pixel, couple of years old. When I check the photo settings on my phone it has all the info there. My issue is more that I need to get the GPS and timestamp on to the actual photo, and also my builders photos. Seems our SAP assessor wants this Although he did say he doesn't like it, but it is what they require. If I could just pdf it all and add the dates/location myself then that would be so much easier, I could just add the details to the photo myself, I think that is all the app is doing anyway. Maybe I am overthinking this (not the first time). No not just a one off unfortunately- it's the whole build that needs capturing for Part L. Thanks @SteamyTea. I will look in to that one too.

Probably a stupid question, but can anyone recommend a good app that will give me the GPS location and timestamp on my photographic evidence? I have a free app I was using, but they all seem to use the current date and location of wherever I am at the time. My builder has lots of photos, but if he sends them to me I can't get the GPS info added? I mean I can go round to the site and just use the app there, but obviously dates will all be wrong! Just wondered what other people are doing? I feel like there must be a simple and proper way to do this.

We used Louise Simons at Russell and Russell. Her team were brilliant, it all went though super quick and also was very reasonably priced. https://russellrussell.co.uk/advice-for-you/conveyancing/self-build-conversions

Yes I know that now, the builder had guessed basically. We are now doing percolation test (as I said 2 weeks ago). So that is all sorted. I am now in the process of getting a site inspection survey done..

Apparently the email from BCO is not good enough! They now want us to pay £600 for a desktop study, which after my experience with ecology and bat studies will probably lead us down a path of more studies needed for no reason and more money down the drain! Can anyone recommend a company for a site inspection report that isn't going to try and rip us off?

For the site inspection report this is a standard question, so if you weren't required to have one you can just ask Building Control to send an email to confirm why you didn't one. In case anyone else gets asked this, no need to panic like me

Perfect- thanks. I am going to do that. Then I will have my soakaway design!

Well we have our soakaway design, so maybe we can do the percolation tests ourselves. Like you say process seems to be easily enough to find online. Our design is far better than the existing soakaway for the house that was built 80 years ago and there were never any issues there, so I can't imagine there should be too much to worry about. Not sure how soil samples will benefit us, foundations have already been dug and filled in with concrete anyway, all signed off by BCO... don't know the point of a site inspection. I'll call them tomorrow and ask.

Just had our first inspection from warranty surveyor and they are asking for a site investigation report and also a soakaway design and percolation test to be completed. I'm not sure what a site investigation report is and why we need one. It seems to be more to do with possible contaminated land? Anyone else had this request? We have our soakaway design, can we do percolation test ourselves? It is mostly sand, but there is some clay which I assume is why they have asked. Feels like we are about to embark on another episode of spending 1000's on reports again 😭

Good that makes sense- ok so maybe I am in agreement in having hard flooring downstairs due to the UFH. I can perhaps afford a couple of rugs. This is my exact memory of sisal, defeats the object of a nice soft carpet. Maybe we can agree on a wool loop pile or similar for bedrooms only. Oh really- I wanted light stone coloured tiles for the downstairs too. Definitely like the idea of carpet runner on stairs. Now my head is spinning with too many flooring options!