SarahG

Yes it is Protek. I have sent them the photos, but they disagree and think there should be protection i.e a concrete slab above the drain, as it looks like around 300mm deep at the drain connection, going down to 600mm. The BCO didn't check it at the time, he said if he had would have asked the same, but he signed it off anyway. Which is frustrating as had he got them to do it we wouldn't be in this situation. I did speak to a nice chap, an engineer at Protek and I think really my only options are to get the builder back at my own expense and get them to pull up the drive and add the protection or I ask Protek to make an exclusion. I am not sure what implications that has in terms of getting a mortgage, which I need to do asap. We have no current plans to sell, but in 5-10 years who knows. I am not sure if it is ok to have exceptions or not, and also maybe we do need this protection so now I am worried about that.

Yes this is an option, the builder as far as they are concerned have sign off and have completed work, so this is extra required for warranty company and will cost at least £1k to pull up drive, cut membrane and lay concrete. Really don't want to pay for that and also don't want to rip up my new drive for something that building officer says I don't need. @saveasteading we have a 600mm deep trench, so if 300mm is what we need we are already double that. I will call warranty provider in the morning and see if I can talk to someone, they never seem to call me back.

Our drainage is 600mm under the drive and has been signed off by building regs. We are trying to get our warranty certificate, but they are saying we need some chartered professional to confirm acceptance as it is close to the surface. The building inspector says he can't comment and our architect is retired. What should the depth be, is 600mm acceptable or does it need a concrete top? The connection to our mains is 615mm so was not possible to go lower.

Thanks, yes we did this and they seem ok now. Yes cooker hood spec rate seems a bit far fetched! Now on to the next problem, only two to go before we can get our certificate!

Thanks, yes I have asked the builder who installed to come and test the fans. Then I can put in to a report like this and hopefully that will be ok. I wish I had got it done now as part of air test

It is listed as one of their required certificates yes. I did ask them ahead of time what was needed, but they said they would just request all required information at completion. It just makes no sense to me, why would I pay some company to come and test all the fans to check they comply with BR when I know the spec of them all which I have sent to BR and they have signed off. So I am testing for something I already know?

Just curious if people who have used Protek for 10 year warranty have had this test done. We didn't get it done as part of our air test, but now Protek are insisting we need one. I don't really understand why as we have all the specs of the extractor fans, which I have shared with the BCO who has already signed off the build as complete. So what is the purpose of this test now at this stage? Just feels like it is money down the drain just to tick someone's box. We don't have MHVR installed.

We are coming towards the end of our build and the company that did our as-built SAP is unfortunately no longer trading due to the chap having a serious health condition. We had also paid them to issue our EPC. Do I now need to get a new as-built SAP report and EPC? Or can I just get them to issue an EPC certificate? Seems a bit pointless doing an as-built SAP as the house is already built, but maybe I am misunderstanding the process.

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!

@Conor - Depends on the carpet you go for! He wants this expensive sisal stuff. Although I wouldn't put that in kids bedrooms. @JohnMo why is UFH and carpet rubbish? We will have UFH downstairs only but I wanted carpet in playroom and study. Upstairs won't be UFH so guess it doesn't matter then. My issue with hard flooring also is you then have to spend a fortune on rugs to make it actually feel nice and homely. Also will it be more noisy with hard than carpet?

I see here that you cannot claim VAT relief for carpet - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-refunds-for-new-builds-if-youre-a-diy-housebuilder#goods-you-can-or-cannot-claim-for Can you claim back the VAT on hard flooring though, such as solid wood floor or tiles? I am currently going through a debate with my husband if we have solid flooring throughout the whole house- I want carpets in bedrooms and he does not. I think if you have to pay VAT on carpet and not on hard flooring then this might support his argument and not mine?!