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GuidesKnow the rules before you build
Plain-English guides to the steps every extension and demolition has to follow.
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How to build a house extension in England: step by step
From the first idea to the completion certificate: planning permission or permitted development, drawings, Building Regulations, party wall notices, choosing a builder and finishing properly.
Read the guideHow demolition works in the UK: the legal steps, in order
Asbestos surveys, prior approval, the section 80 notice, disconnecting services, CDM 2015, dust and noise, waste duty of care — what has to happen before and during a demolition.
Read the guideParty wall rules explained (England and Wales)
What a party wall is, when the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, the three notices, the 14-day reply, surveyors and awards, access rights and the mistakes that cause disputes.
Read the guideVAT on building work: when is it 0%, 5% or 20%?
New homes, conversions, empty homes, energy-saving materials, self-builds and extensions — which VAT rate applies to building work in the UK, from HMRC's own guidance.
Read the guideThe Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) explained for people hiring builders
Does CIS apply to you? Homeowners, businesses and developers — who must register, the 20% and 30% deductions, gross payment status, monthly returns and deadlines, from HMRC guidance.
Read the guideThe VAT domestic reverse charge for construction: who it applies to
When the customer, not the builder, accounts for VAT: which construction services are covered, which are not, and why homeowners are unaffected — from HMRC guidance.
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