How to prepare for and avoid the pitfalls, by Michael Hunter
Student accommodation has become an increasingly popular asset class over recent years with investment returns outstripping the commercial sector.
However advisers working in this area need to be especially cautious because there are numerous traps for the unwary.
Although this article focuses on student accommodation many of the issues have relevance in other areas such as care homes transactions.
Statutory references are to the Value Added Tax Act 1994 unless stated otherwise.
Most of the traps derive from the zero-rating regime applying to student accommodation and the government’s desire to prevent abuse of this relief.
Broadly zero-rating may apply to the...
