64
JUNE 2014 PRO INSTALLER
Half of all home
owners have requested
cash-in-hand building
work to avoid VAT
More than 55% of all home owners have requested cash-in-hand building work to avoid
paying VAT according to new research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “This
research confirms what we
already suspected – too
many otherwise law-abiding
individuals are asking their
builder to carry out cash-inhand construction work at
0% VAT in order to cut costs.
“What’s more, when the professional builder refuses, the home
owner will all-too-often find a
rogue trader that is willing to operate within the black economy.
That’s when home owners inevitably become ensnared in nightmare situations with sub-standard
refurbishment work that has
been carried out with little or no
regard for health and safety.”
Berry continued: “Research from
Experian shows that the black
economy in construction is worth
almost £10 billion a year but this
is a conservative estimate and our
latest research suggests the real
figure is much higher. If govern-
ment wants to limit the activity
of rogue traders operating in the
black economy it should reduce
the rate of VAT to 5% on all hous-
over five years to 2020 and create
more than 95,000 jobs.”
Berry concluded: “Charging
the top rate of VAT on home
‘it would also boost the economy by more
than £15 billion over five years to 2020
and create more than 95,000 jobs’
ing renovation and repair work
leaving almost no competitive
advantage for those disreputable
builders. Not only would this
help eradicate the black economy, it would also boost the economy by more than £15 billion
refurbishment serves no purpose
other than to put money in the
pockets of rogue builders and
perpetuate the culture of home
owners requesting cash-in-hand
work. It makes criminals, and
often victims, out of families and
individuals who are struggling
with the cost of living and acts
as a barrier to growth in the
economy.”
Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of HomeOwners Alliance, a
consumer group championing
homeowners, said: “Homeowners
shouldn’t ask to avoid VAT and
builders should neither offer it
nor accept it. Having a high rate
of VAT on repair work creates a
black market which is bad for
homeowners, builders and other
taxpayers. Lowering VAT will help
cash strapped families living in
cramped homes in a state of disrepair with leaking roofs.”
Pro Sport
Liverpool FC unveils plans for revamped stadium
Liverpool Football Club
has unveiled its stadium
expansion plans with detailed proposals for the
expansion of its Main
Stand and outline proposals for expansion of
its Anfield Road Stand.
Public consultation and
exhibitions on the proposals
are now under way.
The detailed design proposals for the redevelopment of
the Main Stand could add an
additional 8,500 seats taking
the Main Stand capacity to
nearly 21,000 and overall
Anfield capacity to around
54,000. Incorporating the
iconic Club Crest into the
proposed Main Stand’s exterior elevation, the scheme
will also include a two-storey podium and a carefully
designed cloister which will
become the new home for
the Hillsborough Memorial.
The Main Stand will open
onto a wide public concourse which will link the
Stadium into the wider
Anfield area. The outline
proposals for the Anfield
Road Stand provide for an
increase in its capacity of
around 4,800 seats.
Ian Ayre, Managing Director, Liverpool Football Club,
said:
“We started this journey just
over 18 months ago and a
lot of work has already been
done, there is still an incredible amount to do, but good
progress has been made so
far and we are proud to be
able to unveil our plans.“
If consent is granted,
construction work on the
proposed Main Stand could
begin early next year and it
could be complete in time
for the 2016/17 season.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “This is another
important step in our ambitions to transform the Anfield
area, bringing new jobs,
investment and housing.
“The overall regeneration
of Anfield will see £260m invested in the local community and will deliver hundreds
of jobs - Liverpool Football
Club’s proposals for the stadium are a key part of this.
“We are all committed to
delivering a brighter future
for Anfield and the Club’s exhibition is a clear signal that
real progress is being made
with all our plans.“
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