Value Added Tax Act 1994

Residential and charitable buildings: change of use etc

1(1)In this paragraph “relevant zero-rated supply” means a grant or other supply taking place on or after 1st April 1989 which—

(a)relates to a building intended for use solely for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose or part of such a building; and

(b)is zero-rated, in whole or in part, by virtue of Group 5 of Schedule 8.

(2)Sub-paragraph (3) below applies where—

(a)one or more relevant zero-rated supplies relating to a building (or part of a building) have been made to any person,

(b)within the period of 10 years beginning with the day on which the building is completed, the person grants an interest in, right over or licence to occupy the building or any part of it (or the building or any part of it including, consisting of or forming part of the part to which the relevant zero-rated supply or supplies related), and

(c)after the grant the whole or any part of the building, or of the part to which the grant relates, (or the whole of the building or of the part to which the grant relates, or any part of it including, consisting of or forming part of the part to which the relevant zero-rated supply or supplies related) is not intended for use solely for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose.

(3)Where this sub-paragraph applies, to the extent that the grant relates to so much of the building as—

(a)by reason of its intended use gave rise to the relevant zero-rated supply or supplies; and

(b)is not intended for use solely for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose after the grant,

it shall be taken to be a taxable supply in the course or furtherance of a business which is not zero-rated by virtue of Group 5 of Schedule 8 (if it would not otherwise be such a supply).

(4)Sub-paragraph (5) below applies where—

(a)one or more relevant zero-rated supplies relating to a building (or part of a building) have been made to any person; and

(b)within the period of 10 years beginning with the day on which the building is completed, the person uses the building or any part of it (or the building or any part of it including, consisting of or forming part of the part to which the relevant zero-rated supply or supplies related) for a purpose which is neither a relevant residential purpose nor a relevant charitable purpose.

(5)Where this sub-paragraph applies, his interest in, right over or licence to occupy so much of the building as—

(a)by reason of its intended use gave rise to the relevant zero-rated supply or supplies, and

(b)is used otherwise than for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose,

shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as supplied to him for the purpose of a business carried on by him and supplied by him in the course or furtherance of the business when he first uses it for a purpose which is neither a relevant residential purpose nor a relevant charitable purpose.

(6)Where sub-paragraph (5) applies—

(a)the supply shall be taken to be a taxable supply which is not zero-rated by virtue of Group 5 of Schedule 8 (if it would not otherwise be such a supply); and

(b)the value of the supply shall be such that the amount of VAT chargeable on it is equal to the amount of the VAT which would have been chargeable on the relevant zero-rated supply (or, where there was more than one such supply, the aggregate amount which would have been chargeable on them) had so much of the building as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) above not been intended for use solely for a relevant residential purpose or a relevant charitable purpose.