Quote sanity check · Free · UK 2026
Is this quote fair?
Two ways to check. Pick whichever suits.
Step 1 of 4
What did the builder quote for?
The verdict bands are calibrated against UK 2026 mid-range build rates — pick the closest project type.
VAT is the biggest source of surprise
UK domestic construction is 20% VAT standard rate. Reduced rates apply: 0% on energy-saving materials (extended to March 2027), 5% on converting non-residential to residential or renovating an empty home that's been vacant 2+ years. Always confirm the rate in writing.
Cash-only quotes are not bargains
No VAT receipt means no proof of work on the resale conveyancing pack, no Consumer Rights Act recourse, and HMRC can pursue undeclared labour back to the homeowner under Construction Industry Scheme rules.
Always check Companies House
Verify the contractor at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. A recently-incorporated "Ltd" with no filed accounts is a red flag. Cross-check the director's previous companies for liquidations.
Long reads
What a fair UK builder's quote actually looks like
The cost guide includes the eight-point checklist for reading a quote line-by-line. The AI guide explains how our quote-analyser model is calibrated, where it catches things humans miss, and where it doesn't.
Renovation cost · 14 min
How much does it cost to renovate a UK house in 2026?
BCIS Q1 2026 + FMB data. Cost-by-scope / spec / region / room tables, the eight hidden costs nobody quotes for, and the VAT treatment that catches 4 in 10 homeowners.
Read the guideAI · 12 min
Can AI estimate a UK renovation cost from a property photo?
We tested Claude Sonnet 4.5 vision against a chartered UK quantity surveyor on a real Inner-London semi. Where AI is genuinely useful and where it falls apart.
Read the guide