VAT on service - not included in price

malcolmffc

We've just heard back from the letting agents after our checkout report. They have added 20% VAT to the £280 cleaning and checkout fees. We agreed to pay these fees when we signed the tenancy but nowhere on the T&Cs we signed does it say the prices exclude VAT.

Am I right in thinking that legally, if a price is quoted without explicitly stating it excludes VAT, it must be assumed that VAT is included?

le_loup

When dealing with "retail" trade VAT would be assumed included.
Business to business - as this is, should not be.

prowla

If your business is VAT registered then you simply deduct that from the VAT you ow the taxman.

McKneff

Am I missing something here, I am not seeing where the OP says he is in business, I am reading that he is the tennant who has moved out.

real1314

malcolmffc wrote: »

We've just heard back from the letting agents after our checkout report. They have added 20% VAT to the £280 cleaning and checkout fees. We agreed to pay these fees when we signed the tenancy but nowhere on the T&Cs we signed does it say the prices exclude VAT.

Am I right in thinking that legally, if a price is quoted without explicitly stating it excludes VAT, it must be assumed that VAT is included?

If you were the residential tenant, you should pay the price stated in the agreement. As a consumer you would (or should, or can assert that you have) have been given a VAT inclusive price. :cool:

malcolmffc

Yes, I am a private tenant, not a business!


Is there some law or regulation I can quote back at them?

McKneff

Pay the price quoted in that case, cheeky sods.

prowla

Apologies - I think that consumer prices quoted (vs. business) should be VAT inclusive.

However, garages always seem to quote plus VAT, so it may not be a hard and fast rule.

Wywth

Estate agents typically quote prices plus vat for their services

e.g. to sell a property they will charge x% + VAT.
One local estate agent I know of sells at a fixed fee of £395 +VAT

real1314

prowla wrote: »

Apologies - I think that consumer prices quoted (vs. business) should be VAT inclusive.

However, garages always seem to quote plus VAT, so it may not be a hard and fast rule.

Some places will quote £120, others £100 + VAT.

OP has been quoted £280 with no mention of VAT. Under consumer law, VAT should be quoted, except where the fee will vary and hence the VAT is not fixed - e.g a solicitor could quote conveyancing at £500 + disbursements + VAT.

If there is no reference to any additional VAT then the price can automatically be taken as including VAT in any business to consumer situation. :cool:

googler

malcolmffc wrote: »

Yes, I am a private tenant, not a business!


Is there some law or regulation I can quote back at them?

Yes, I detailed it in your other thread on the same topic....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4254045