New Builds and VAT

airyfairy76

Hi - I am in the process of buying a new build which is due to complete next month, and am already aware of the VAT exemptions on fitting hard floors in a new build prior to completion, which I am having done by an external fitter, as the builder charges a fortune for their flooring.

However, the site manager of the development has recently been replaced, and where originally I was led to believe that they would let my fitter in a few days prior to completion, the new site manager is now flatly refusing anyone on site.

This potentially costs me around £600 in VAT - I am still saving on the builders cost of flooring, but was wondering what if the materials for the floor were preordered and delivered to site, and invoiced separately. Could the materials be VAT exempt, even if they were fitted later on and labour charged separately? Obviously I would still then have to pay VAT on the labour.

Thanks for any advice!

borkid

Don't know the answer to that one but you might want to consider asking the builders to leave off the skirting boards in the rooms you are having hard flooring as it will give a neater finish IMO.

When we bought a new build our builders negotiated a reduction in the cost of the wood flooring with the shop and then the shop fitters fited the floor before we moved in. We were lucky in that the shop we bought the flooring from was also the one used by the builders for carpets so they already had a working relationship with them.

airyfairy76

borkid wrote: »

Don't know the answer to that one but you might want to consider asking the builders to leave off the skirting boards in the rooms you are having hard flooring as it will give a neater finish IMO.

When we bought a new build our builders negotiated a reduction in the cost of the wood flooring with the shop and then the shop fitters fited the floor before we moved in. We were lucky in that the shop we bought the flooring from was also the one used by the builders for carpets so they already had a working relationship with them.

Thanks for the advice - the builders have already put the skirting down though as of a week ago! Although I'm having Polyflor (LVT) installed, so I don't think it matters quite so much. My fitter says he can butt it up very neatly (we discussed the skirting a couple of days ago).

Sadly, Taylor Wkmpey (my builders) don't seem to be as accommodating as yours...

booksurr

at the end of the day delivery of materials on site is a matter between you and the site agent, no one else's experience matters as there is no legal "right" you can claim to force the issue. Indeed the site agent has responsibilities which mean he can indeed object to other trades being on his site as it obviously impacts his site safety arrangements.

whether the VAT saving outweighs the not inconsiderable risk of having materials delivered on site and stored under conditions outside of your control until your tradesman can access them later is something you should assess carefully as they could easily go "missing" leaving you to sort out whose insurance they fall under

borkid

airyfairy76 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice - the builders have already put the skirting down though as of a week ago! Although I'm having Polyflor (LVT) installed, so I don't think it matters quite so much. My fitter says he can butt it up very neatly (we discussed the skirting a couple of days ago).

Sadly, Taylor Wkmpey (my builders) don't seem to be as accommodating as yours...

Sorry to hear that, ours were a local family business been around for over 50 years. They even lent us a house rent free whilst we waited fro them to finish building ours, we bought off plan.

comeandgo

I would not get any of your materials delivered to a site, who is going to take responsibility for them? If they are damaged or lost you would have no come back.

airyfairy76

Good point about the delivery - thanks guys. Was initially just rather annoyed that they have changed their stance on the fitting after 7 months, but yes, I would rather know that the materials are safe and hadn't considered that. Still curious to know the VAT aspect though - does it matter where they get delivered? If my fitter (who I do trust) ordered and stored them and I paid for them prior to completion date for example....