Search the Community

The Problem: Does HMRC formally regard a building as Complete after a successful VAT reclaim? If HMRC does regard it as Complete, then a company engaged on Supply and Fit (after the successful reclaim) , cannot 0 rate the VAT But if it doesn't, then a company engaged on a Supply and Fit basis can work without charging VAT We've successfully reclaimed our VAT. Because VAT431NB (section 3) doesn't give any guidance on the matter, I rang the HMRC helpline. Their answer was that the question was one that should be answered by the supplier. I asked where the supplier should get their guidance on the matter. The answer was that guidance was to be found in Section 3 of VAT431NB. A slightly different way of asking the same question is; Does a newbuild have two Completion states - one defined by the HMRC, and another by BCOs ?

Still going with my VAT return... almost there though! We do not have completion so will need to provide some other evidence. Did anyone use a letter from their mortgage company? This is ours: This is to certify that ********** released, on 27/01/2021, the last instalment of its loan secured on the building at Plot 4 ********** because the final valuation completed on 25/01/2021 confirmed a sufficient property value to support this release. The HMRC VAT return notes state that they need to know the building is complete... do you think this letter will suffice or not? Confusing! Glasgow City Council won't give us temporary habitation...only the full thing. I'm loathe to start paying council tax when there are literally no services on our street. Its a dump!! No bin collections etc etc etc... Thanks! Joanna

Hey everyone, So we are having a nightmare with Building Control in Glasgow City. Since our house is the first self build (ever) in the city, and we are part of the pilot self build scheme, they have no clue about what we're doing here and don't seem at all interested. I have been asking for temporary habitation since July and was told by our BC officer that we might as well just go for full completion. I have been asking for a site visit for months too, when 2 guys in hi-vis jackets and lanyards showed up unannounced the other day, not wearing masks, and started picking our build apart. One guy told me we would "never" get temporary habitation. I asked for a list of things we had to do to get there and they said they would only speak to our builder or architect, despite me telling them that Ben and I are the builders. They left the site and we have not been sent any more information in over 3 weeks. Ive complained, I've called, and we just can't get any movement. Meanwhile our architect who submitted our original drawings told us the house is built perfectly to spec and is of the best he's seen. The BC officers told us we had to rip off all our Russwood cladding since spiders and rats could get inside. It's all been approved! I can't get anywhere with this and am getting really worried as our mortgage is sky high and now loan repayments are flying out the bank too... Is there anyone who knows how we can get BC to move on our completion certificate? Or does anyone have any advice here? Really stuck... GCC are terrible. Thanks. Joanna

My question is regarding VAT (the VAT office phone line as others have reported is not working). My wife and I would like to move into our property before it is totally finished as we have a newborn baby. Once building control have signed the property off, is that what VAT reclaim consider to be “completion” as I still will need to do stuff like finishing the driveway, decorating etc which are all VAT refundable? On a side note - can anyone recommend an insurance company who will insure the property with us living in it before it is building control completed but has gas and electric signed off? I really appreciate any replies that can help us. As ever, the government don’t make it easy!

We did it! Today we received a completion certificate for our new house - our home! It took us 61 weeks from breaking ground - and these included a very wet winter seasons, a change of builders mid-project, difficult neighbours, sacking the PM, a lockdown, tons of remedial works, and another lockdown! What a journey - feels surreal! Could not have done it without you lot here - love this forum totally Before and after pics are below

I've read what I could on the Forum, but the overall end to end process picture still eludes me (probably due to info overload on bathrooms tiling...). Can someone please help me understand the step by step process of completion certification? I have a vague understanding that we need a certificate from our electician and plumber re their respective areas being completed, then we have to have a visit from a Building Control (we use a private one) who is also supposed to issue something. If it is private, do we have to also get something from a local authority buiding control? And what about Valuation board? Sorry, totally confused.

We aren’t expecting a completion certificate for a while (maybe later this year). Two year lock in on expensive self build mortgage has just expired. Our house is liveable (mortgageable) but not yet finished. Things to do include final bit of cladding, all landscaping and driveway plus some other internals. Plus a bl**dy roof light repair and internal making good. Currently Ecology SB mortgage. Does anyone have any experience of remortgaging before a completion certificate is issued? Could do with saving some money......

I have sold my existing house, but none of the people who have previously done work on the house ever got the completions signed off. I am on Scottish regs. A couple of years ago BC came out and gave me a list of things to do. I had all of them done, but then when I called them out again recently a different person came and started asking more questions. I really need to get these things done in the next 4-6 weeks, we are supposed to complete on the sale on December 8th. I actually applied for the completions in April, but somehow the BC department lost the applications done over the internet and they didn't come until last month. Now they say they are waiting for the person who inspected the original work coming back from holiday to see what they say before they will issue the list of things needing done, they aren't exactly the easiest people to get hold of. The issues I think are. 1. Missing SVP - The drawings show a SVP terminating above the roof. They also show a Durgo AAV in an upstairs WC. connected to the same line. BC asked where the SVP was, is an AAV enough, or does every line need a SVP. There have been no issues with the drainage. 2. I had some work done on the kitchen that needed BC sign off. This meant I had to upgrade the smoke alarms from when the house was built. The alarm company have fitted a smoke alarm. BC asked for the spec, I am thinking it maybe has to be a heat detector? 3. The games room drawings show two smoke detectors, but only one has been fitted. I cannot find anything in the regs that would suggest I need two. 4. There is a downpipes that goes through the garage it enters the front wall of the extension goes through the garage then exits the side wall before going down to ground level. I am sure it was agreed to by BC at the time and the previous inspector said nothing but the new inspector has brought it up again. She said that she wasn't sure if it was allowed. 5. Loose banister - I have tightened it up by, not clear how solid it needs to be. I think the main issue is number 1, I can always get new detectors added. If they change their mind on the downpipes there is no where else to put it except across the front of the house which would not be great. Thanks for any help

We are shortly to receive the building regs completion certificate as building control are satisfied with the construction of the dwelling itself. We still have a gravel driveway to construct, a timber framed garage, patio and also to purchase and install an en suite. My question is can I reclaim vat on the materials if they are purchased after the building regs completion certificate? Having read guidance it appears that HMRC consider the building regs completion certificate as a point of completion. However, the items mentioned above are all included on the drawings and on the planning permission - even the patio is required to discharge the landscaping planning condition. There does seem to be a loophole for delaying some works (such as outside works) due to adverse weather conditions (we have been waiting for springtime to do some of the outside works). We have therefore complied with building regs but we still require these materials to comply with the planning permission / conditions. Does anyone have any experience in this please?