Gist
A practical UK guide to VAT on home renovation work, including when 20%, 5% or 0% can apply, the two-year empty-home rule, conversions, energy-saving materials and common budgeting mistakes.
Renovating an old house can reveal costs that newer properties rarely create. This UK guide covers wiring, plumbing, damp, roofs, timber, asbestos, drainage, heritage work and the contingency old properties need.
How much contingency should you add to a renovation budget? A practical UK guide to 10%, 15%, 20% and higher contingency allowances, what they should cover, and how to calculate a realistic risk fund.
A 2026 UK guide to renovation costs per square metre, including light, medium and full renovation ranges, regional differences, room costs, contingency and a step-by-step budgeting method.