What those in the industry think of this petition - seems sensible to me but I'm a retrofitter!

I'd imagine that the bigger change is actually making new build only zero VAT only if it was to passive standard. In the short term this would create a skills gap but ultimately with notice would create skilled jobs and effectively make all new houses passive..?


The petition reads:
To create a tax incentive to favour retrofit instead of demolition and new build

To 0% rate VAT on refurbishment projects total costs if they substantially reduce CO2e emission of the building; impose a 20% VAT for new build schemes, reduced to 5% if the build meets minimum passive house standard; to 0% rate VAT for all items on a regularly updated list of energy-saving products


https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/573207

Sounds like a good idea in principle but what does 'substantially reduce CO2e emission of the building' mean exactly? In many cases that are discussed on here, it's viewed as impracticable/unreasonable/affects the aesthetics too much/costs too much to even meet current building regs. Why doesn't it say 'meet EnerPHit' or somesuch since it uses PH to judge new builds? Could I 'substantially reduce the CO2e emission' simply by ripping out a gas boiler, installing a mains-powered electric resistance boiler and sourcing a supply of 'green' electricity? Oh, and building a zero-rated pool at the same time

I could definitely go for making new build 0% only for (certified) PH, but then I am biased. I'd also support reintroducing the 5% VAT rate for energy-saving products, or even making it 0%.

I see the proposer is well-qualified to speak to construction issues https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Scott_Cato

Posted By: djhSounds like a good idea in principle but what does 'substantially reduce CO2e emission of the building' mean exactly? In many cases that are discussed on here, it's viewed as impracticable/unreasonable/affects the aesthetics too much/costs too much to even meet current building regs. Why doesn't it say 'meet EnerPHit' or somesuch since it uses PH to judge new builds? Could I 'substantially reduce the CO2e emission' simply by ripping out a gas boiler, installing a mains-powered electric resistance boiler and sourcing a supply of 'green' electricity? Oh, and building a zero-rated pool at the same timehttp:///newforum/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/devil.gif" alt="" title="" >

Indeed, ultimately it's a three line petition. If it could get there with scrutiny/refinement I'm signing it - after all the outcome is that it is debated in parliament - rather than put into law as is.

In line of embodied carbon and climate urgency the current financial incentives to rebuild from scratch don't make sense to me.

Arguably it could also be a more public friendly measure than the coalitions 'conservatory tax' with a similar end.

Bloody obvious - done. Things can change - like the absurd zero VAT on alterations (but not repair and maintenance) to Listed Buildings, finally abolished 2012.