PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(13 April 2026)
Question Asked
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made on the cost of removing VAT on the renovation of unoccupied properties.
Asked by:
Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat)
Asked by:
Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat)
Answer
The Government recognises the importance of reusing existing housing stock to deliver new homes. To support this, residential renovations are subject to a reduced rate of VAT of five per cent if they meet certain conditions. These include the renovation of properties that have been empty for two or more years.
HMRC publishes estimates of the costs of tax reliefs where possible in its annual tax reliefs publication. The latest tax relief statistics publication and further information about how HMRC estimate the cost of tax reliefs can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-reliefs/tax-relief-statistics-january-2026.
Answered by:
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