Detached Victorian renovation, London.
Discussion
Giving them some of the saving might help, it will require a bit more admin from contractor and ensuring paperwork is water tight. I would suggest you agree to cover the contractors additional accountant costs and use his own accountant who should be well versed in construction tax regs.
You will have read that not all elements can be reduce rated. Scaffold, plant hire, prof fees etc will all need to be itemised and charged at 20%.
It is much better to invoice at the correct amount than seek a rebate from HMRC. It needs all his trades to buy in at the start too.
Also from memory not all kitchen appliances can benefit. Items like extractors can be but an electric hob can't be. A gas one could as it is plumbed in. Get a fridge freezer with a water dispenser to get round this.
You will have read that not all elements can be reduce rated. Scaffold, plant hire, prof fees etc will all need to be itemised and charged at 20%.
It is much better to invoice at the correct amount than seek a rebate from HMRC. It needs all his trades to buy in at the start too.
Also from memory not all kitchen appliances can benefit. Items like extractors can be but an electric hob can't be. A gas one could as it is plumbed in. Get a fridge freezer with a water dispenser to get round this.
Floor plan as it currently stands. We will be moving a few stud walls where they modified the utility room/front reception (was to be therapy area) and first floor (lots of walls installed for carer's apartment, with kitchenette, WC and bathroom, which will all be one big bathroom now). New stud wall in master bedroom will incorporate WC, and hopefully lift shaft on first floor will have en-suite wetroom and bath area.
It's a decent size for a London house, but on paper only 10% larger than our current semi-detached place, which is 3000 square feet. But the wide passageways/halls.landings, split levels, big rooms and high ceilings give it an air of spaciousness that our 1930's house does not have.
It will also lead to monstrous heating bills, I'm sure.
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
It's a decent size for a London house, but on paper only 10% larger than our current semi-detached place, which is 3000 square feet. But the wide passageways/halls.landings, split levels, big rooms and high ceilings give it an air of spaciousness that our 1930's house does not have.
It will also lead to monstrous heating bills, I'm sure.
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Saturday 12th August 13:41
There were a number of plans done for the abandoned renovation, which we got from the seller. These have pretty much been completed as per these plans, but lift shaft is incomplete, and obviously not fixtures or fittings are in.
Ground floor:
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
First floor:
by baconrashers, on Flickr
Second floor:
by baconrashers, on Flickr
Ground floor:
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrFirst floor:
by baconrashers, on FlickrSecond floor:
by baconrashers, on FlickrLooks like the chimneys are all still there internally, have they just knocked them down above roof height? When was that done?
Open fires are generally frowned on in urban areas, apparently wood smoke is full of particulates, the councils actually prefer smokeless coal. Dunno if you could fit some kind of DPF type arrangement to chimneys?
As I recall, the wallpaper I recommended was a Voysey design by Watts & Co. Rest assured, your new house will take Arts & Crafts designs very well...
Open fires are generally frowned on in urban areas, apparently wood smoke is full of particulates, the councils actually prefer smokeless coal. Dunno if you could fit some kind of DPF type arrangement to chimneys?
As I recall, the wallpaper I recommended was a Voysey design by Watts & Co. Rest assured, your new house will take Arts & Crafts designs very well...
Harry Flashman said:
MikeGoodwin said:
On the lift shaft question Mr Spock - no, not keeping it. Will be building a floor in it. Bottom will be a covered deck so that muddy people/animals can remove shoes etc before coming inside. Top half with new floor will be an en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom, with freestanding tub in a wetroom with shower and big window so I can bathe whilst surveying the garden and reading a book. Not overlooked, so all good.
Your house, obviously, but with an ageing population and your desire to make this your forever home, it may be worthwhile doing the lift. Having lived with a disabled wife and son, and with ageing parents (and we're all mortal), I'd have given lots for a place with a lift. Not to mention not having to cart music gear up and down stairs!Looks fantastic either way!
Watch out for the VAT man. We just finished a much smaller project, using the disabled VAT concession, and at the end HMRC audited the builder and put the full VAT on most of the project.
king winner!Yep - hard work starts now, and we have a definite budget we need to stick to here.
We have had a stroke of luck - our buyers have turned out to be lovely people. They want to move in on 25th September - and knowing our house will be uninhabitable for a while, offered for us to stay until then, rent free, in our old home.
Not something that happens every day, the EA told me.
We have had a stroke of luck - our buyers have turned out to be lovely people. They want to move in on 25th September - and knowing our house will be uninhabitable for a while, offered for us to stay until then, rent free, in our old home.
Not something that happens every day, the EA told me.
Harry Flashman said:
We have had a stroke of luck - our buyers have turned out to be lovely people. They want to move in on 25th September - and knowing our house will be uninhabitable for a while, offered for us to stay until then, rent free, in our old home.
Not something that happens every day, the EA told me.
Stroke of luck - yes. But your buyers also know squatters and the like won't be trashing the place before they move in with you still there.Not something that happens every day, the EA told me.
Win, win.
PS love the new pile. I love old houses.
Thanks chaps.
Not finishing the lift. Using the 3m x 2m area lift shaft though, for two new rooms of the same dimensions.
- first floor: en-suite wetroom and bathroom to master bed, with wall of glass so you can look out over the garden and trees when having a bath.
- ground floor: study with door opening to garden for Lady F (she works from home 80% of the time)
Additional two rooms was the most useful thing to us, really, rather than a lift: and a lot cheaper to do. Means spare beds can be used for other stuff and hopefully kids will come along to fill them.
Not finishing the lift. Using the 3m x 2m area lift shaft though, for two new rooms of the same dimensions.
- first floor: en-suite wetroom and bathroom to master bed, with wall of glass so you can look out over the garden and trees when having a bath.
- ground floor: study with door opening to garden for Lady F (she works from home 80% of the time)
Additional two rooms was the most useful thing to us, really, rather than a lift: and a lot cheaper to do. Means spare beds can be used for other stuff and hopefully kids will come along to fill them.
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