Self-builders are being called upon to help provide vital data which could support future opportunities in this sector of the housing market.
The National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA) is inviting anyone who has self-built to complete a quick, anonymous survey which will help other self-builders to avoid overpaying VAT.
As of this year, calculating the number of self-builders will be easier because there is a question on the form people must submit to apply for planning application which will enable NaCSBA to gather the data.
However, for previous years it must rely on retrospective data to provide this information – and this is where you can help.
Creating opportunities
Andrew Baddeley-Chappell, CEO of the NaCSBA , explained: “This VAT Survey is critical, as knowing the size of the sector empowers us when having high-level discussions with government and industry about the needs of the market and its potential.
“We’re actively working to create more opportunities for more people to access a consumer-commissioned home that suits their lives, creating greater housing choice.”
By compiling data on the number of VAT exemptions, the NaCSBA will be able to identify how many people have self-built over the years.
Together with other statistics, such as information on the number of single dwellings created per year, this will provide an estimate of the number of self-builders in the country.
Once the information is gathered, the NaCSBA will use it help to campaign and lobby governments in all four UK countries to create more opportunities in the sector for businesses and would-be self-builders.
It said the more people who were building, the more opportunities this would bring to the market.
Click here to complete the survey. The closing date is 30 November 2019.
