Exterior Wall Finishes

From 14 December 2007 most properties marketed for sale in England and Wales need a Home Information Pack.

The Energy Performance Certificate is a mandatory component of the Home Information Pack and provides details on the energy performance of the property and what you can do to improve it. The Home Condition Report is an optional component that provides details on the condition of the property that is for sale.

for additional information go here

https://www.hcrregister.com/

To find a Domestic Energy Assessor or Home Inspector.

click here

https://www.hcrregister.com/searchAssessor.html

more information here

http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/theenvironment/energyperformance/energyassessment/accreditation/

 

Your supplier will charge you the full rate of VAT for materials however when you install them you would charge the customer 5% the reduced rate

2.1 What installations are reduced-rated?

The reduced rate applies to the installation of certain specified energy-saving materials (see paragraph 2.5) in:

• residential accommodation (see paragraph 2.16); or
• a building used solely for a relevant charitable purpose (see paragraph 2.17).

The reduced rate applies whether or not the installation is grant-funded and includes the price of the goods themselves.

If you supply energy-saving materials without installing them your supply is standard-rated.

See

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_ShowContent&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_CL_000514#P70_4298

See our main site for external wal insulation work
www.wall2wallsolutions.co.uk

If you are having exterior wall insulation work installed on your house the current VAT rate you should be charged is 5%

What is the reduced rate of VAT for energy saving materials?

If a contractor charges you more than this you paying 12.5% too much & in January 2011 you would be paying 15% more than you should do.

VAT rate for energy saving materials Simplified by Wall2Wall Solutions

 

Follow this link to get it official HM CUSTOMS AND EXCISE

http://www.hmce.gov.uk

 

 

What is the reduced rate of VAT for energy saving materials?

 

Taken from Notice 700 the VAT extract from 3.3 page 22 of HM Customs & Excise Notice 708/6

Energy-saving materials

August 2006

 

There are three rates of VAT:

· A standard rate, currently 17.5%;

· A reduced rate, currently 5%; and

· A zero rate.

2.5 What energy-saving materials are covered by the reduced rate?

The reduced rate applies to installations of:

• central heating and hot water system controls (see paragraph 2.6);
• draught stripping (see paragraph 2.7);
• insulation (see paragraph 2.8);
• solar panels (see paragraph 2.9);
• wind turbines (see paragraph 2.10);
• water turbines (see paragraph 2.11);
• ground source heat pumps (see paragraph 2.2.7);
• air source heat pumps (see paragraph 2.2.8);
• micro combined heat and power units (see paragraph 2.2.9); and
• wood-fuelled boilers (see paragraph 2.2.10)

2.8 Insulation

Insulation means materials that are designed and installed because of their insulating qualities.

The reduced rate applies to installations of insulation for:

• walls;
• floors;
• ceilings;
• roofs or lofts; and
• Water tanks, pipes or other plumbing fittings.

The reduced rate does not apply to essentially decorative products such as curtains and carpets

2.2 Installation

Installation, in this context, means putting in place energy-saving materials.

This involves some process, by which materials are permanently fixed in place,

although loft insulation may simply need to be unrolled and positioned in place to be

installed.

2.3 Incidental work

Any work that you undertake as part of the installation process is eligible for the

reduced rate.

This includes minor building works, such as planing doors or windows, enlarging loft

hatches, and painting or plastering to make good.

But if the installation of energy-saving materials is incidental to another supply you

are making – such as the building of an extension or the replacement of a roof – you

are making a single supply of construction services (see Notice 708 Buildings and

construction).

2.4 New dwellings

If you install energy-saving materials during the course of construction of a new

dwelling, your supply is zero-rated. If you are involved in the construction of new

dwellings you should consult Notice 708 Buildings and construction.

2.16 What is residential accommodation?

The installation of energy-saving materials is only reduced-rated if they are for use in

the following types of residential accommodation:

• houses, flats or other dwellings;

• armed forces residential accommodation;

• children’s homes;

• homes providing care for the elderly, disabled people, or people

who suffer or have suffered from drug or alcohol dependency or

mental disorder;

• hospices;

• institutions that are the sole or main residence of at least 90% of

their residents;

• monasteries, nunneries and similar religious communities;

• school and university residential accommodation for students

and pupils;

• self catering holiday accommodation;

• caravans that are sited on permanent residential caravan parks.

They must be either longer than 7 metres or wider than 2.3

metres, excluding towing bars and similar apparatus used solely

for the purpose of attaching the caravan to a vehicle; and

Notice 708/6 Energy-saving materials

August 2006

Page 7 of 12

• houseboats that are designed or adapted for permanent

habitation and have no means of self propulsion, or other boats

which are used as a person’s sole or main residence, such as

canal boats and Dutch barges, on which the boat owner pays

Council Tax or domestic rates.

 

 See

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_ShowContent&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_CL_000514#P70_4298

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Do I need planning permission for cladding or rendering my house walls?

Do I need to follow building regulations for rendering if my house is listed or in a conservation area?

If you are replacing or applying 25% or more of the surface area of your exterior render or applying any other wall cladding to the exterior of a dwelling then you require Building regulations approval. Basically what they (the government) want you to achieve is improved thermal properties to the walls (or Envelope as they like to call it).

Other factors could mean you don’t have to do it for instance if it’s not technically feasible all this is a bit of a grey area see the condition on page 23 of the Part L1b PDF link below, they may allow a relaxation on the thermal efficiency of a building if its build is not suitable i.e. weight load factors.

This is not the case if the walls are just to be painted, cleaned (classed as decorating) or pointed, but you may still require permission for the colour if you are in a conservation area, its best to check and get something in writing before you do anything.

If your house is grade 2 or grade 1 listed or in a conservation or National Park then the appropriate local authority will deal with the  building regs, your project may still have to have incorporate thermal improvements, they will take into account the building style and assist you in this matter.   

Suggested reading download the PDF Part L1B see sections 54 55 and 57 also table 5 all on page 23 for more details.

Failure to comply with this law a fine of up to £5000, both contractor and homeowner can be accountable so don’t ignore this law.

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q=part+l1b+building+regulations&aq=2&aqi=g4g-m3&aql=&oq=part+L1b&gs_rfai=&fp=fc89fa3b5367ab18

Links to the government web site

 

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/government/buildingregs/