Landlord charging my domestic flat at 20% VAT

My landlord is charging me 20% VAT on my domestic flat and refusing to change it. The building used to be an office block but was converted to flats a few years ago. Is there anything I can do?

Hi,

The rent on residential premises should be exempt from VAT.

Please see the guidance below:

The liability of a supply of land

You would need to challenge this with the landlord as it will be a third party dispute but I would refer the landlord to the above guidance.

Thank you.

Your landlord is not allowed to charge VAT on residential rent, regardless of what the property was previously. Ask your landlord for a VAT receipt/VAT invoice, that will at least check to see if landlord is VAT registered, if landlord refuses to issue a VAT invoice (which is also a legal requirement), then you probably have a landlord pocketing the 20% and not handing it over to HMRC. However, this is a legal matter between you and the landlord, what does your lease/rental agreement say about VAT?