Would setting myself up as a 'company' help?
Would setting myself up as a 'company' help?
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Stu 9-5

Original Poster:

382 posts

263 months

Saturday 10th December 2011
quotequote all
Hello, I have a couple of residential properties I rent out. One of them needs refurbishment over the new year period. Normally I'll just go to a DIY store (B&Q, Homebase etc.) and get my bits and bobs and crack on with the jobs. More recently, due to wanting to spend my time off work with my wife/kids, I've employed local builders to do the refurbs for me.

I know they apply some mark up on the kit they buy on my behalf. I'd like to be able to buy kitchens/bathrooms etc at trade prices, get them delivered to the property and just utilise the builders for their artisan skills and not their interpretation of what I (or more realistically - my wife) would like. Experience has shown that they often make the wrong cosmetic choices and to top it off I pay a small but not insignificant premium for the priveledge.

If I 'owned a firm' could I then open an account with local trade suppliers for the gear I need?

Previously I've just declared all property income and expenditure on a self assessment return and paid the taxman his slice of what's left. I find this quite simple, would it be more difficult if I was 'a trader'?

I'm looking at buying more BtL properties over the next few years, does this change any advice you'd offer?

If it looks viable, how would I go about it and what would the potential costs be?

Sorry for so many Qs and rambling on a bit, had a few sociables in the pub this afternoon and this is just an extension to the conversation/utter tosh that was being 'discussed' with my fellow drinkers. CHeeeeeeers beer

cailean

917 posts

202 months

Saturday 10th December 2011
quotequote all
Do you mean using a company just for buying stuff and getting trade prices? or to actually own the properties in the company? I expect the trade suppliers may be more interested in volume of trade and not whether you trade as a sole trader or a company.

As regards owning the properties, if you finance them by bank debt I doubt they will give you as good rates/terms if their customer is a company. They would want personal guarantees anyway.

Eric Mc

125,606 posts

294 months

Saturday 10th December 2011
quotequote all
No.

duncancallum

982 posts

207 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
quotequote all
you could get a trade card for B+Q as you can have a cash account with them.

get an application from from the trade counter and see if you qualify.

rog007

5,828 posts

253 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
No.
^ this; as you described it. You'd have to go further to make this stick.