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Message started by harveys dad on Feb 16th, 2019, 1:49pm

Title: Damaged main supply cable
Post by harveys dad on Feb 16th, 2019, 1:49pm

Doing up an old property which has been abandoned for 12 years. Remarkably NEDL advised that the property was ‘energised’ the supply is overhead from a pole which enters the loft space to a meter and fuse board on the first floor landing. Yesterday I pulled down the bedroom ceiling and the mains cable sagged( there seems to be a lot of it) and though it did not snag anything there was an audible crack and my joiner said a flash.  Not had a really close look but looks like the cable at some point has been squashed.
Am I right that an electrician is not able to repair it . Would it be repaired by jointing it  if so any idea of cost it is accessible and obviously no digging is required , if not I am about 30 metres from the pole so what cost for that cheers

Title: Re: Damaged main supply cable
Post by CWatters on Mar 15th, 2019, 6:26pm

I can't answer your question but are you aware you there is reduced rate VAT if renovating a house that has been empty >10 years?

I believe this means anyone you hire to work on it should not charge you VAT. See Vat Notice 708 which instructs tradesmen what rate to charge on different building projects.

I don't think you can reclaim any VAT already paid in error or on materials but I might be wrong.

The only gotcha is that you cannot move in before work starts. That would mean the house hadn't been empty for >10 years before work started. However you can move in shortly after work starts.


Title: Re: Damaged main supply cable
Post by Lectrician on Mar 16th, 2019, 8:26am

The DNO would cut the cable outside were it enters the loft and put a wall mounted joint, running a new service from there to the cutout.  They won't run a service cable internally to the building any longer.

Title: Re: Damaged main supply cable
Post by harveys dad on Mar 22nd, 2019, 6:51pm

Thanks both for the replies, yes I knew about the VAT as I’ve previously done a self build so am diligently recording every invoice

Title: Re: Damaged main supply cable
Post by CWatters on Apr 4th, 2019, 12:53pm

I might be wrong but I don't think you can reclaim the VAT in the same way that you can for a self build (which I've also done).

I thought the only way to get the VAT "back" when refurbishing an empty property was to use a VAT registered builder and have them zero rate everything to you.

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