79% of homeowners don’t check trades for VAT

Whilst tradesmen do not need to be VAT registered if they earn less than £83,000 a year, many claim to be so they can charge customers higher prices, the report claimed.

The youngest homeowners – those aged between 18-34 – are the most likely (41%) to ask to see evidence of the trade professional’s VAT credentials. Londoners are the most cautious, with 37% of homeowners requesting information, while people from Nottingham (12%) were the least likely to ask.