Thu 1 May 2008
‘Cut the VAT’ campaign gathers momentum
The Property Owners Directory (POD) wants the government to cut the rate of VAT from 17.5% to 5% for all building repair and maintenance work in the UK, in an attempt to stamp out all rogue tradesmen.Andy Stern of POD (pictured) commented: “If the Government reduced VAT on maintenance and home improvement work from 17.5 % to 5 %, this would help to eliminate the ‘cowboy’ tradesmen who often attempt to undercut honest, reliable and qualified suppliers by offering to take payment in cash in return for not providing an invoice and not charging VAT. Without an invoice, homeowners have no come-back when the cheap work they have paid for turns out to be shoddy.”
POD has joined forces with a number of high profile industry bodies and organisations including the Federation of Master Builders and the National Landlords Association, to form the ‘Cut the VAT’ campaign.
A VAT reduction would lower the cost of repairing damaged homes across the country, and would also bring more vacant homes back into use. The campaign also has a glaring focus on sustainability, as greater home improvements is likely to bring about greater energy efficiency which would aid the government in its target to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050.
Stern adds: “Homeowners who were previously tempted to pay in cash in order to avoid the 17.5% VAT rate would have a strong incentive to pay the 5% VAT in return for an invoice. A VAT cut would allow homeowners to afford reputable builders, give them redress in case anything goes wrong and would put everyone on the right side of the law.”
Posted by Marc Da-Silva
in Andy Stern, Federation of Master Builders, National Landlords Association, News, Property Owners Directory on Thu 1 May 2008
Have your say and comment on this article