The major housebuilder, Cala Homes, have a number of developments in areas where Scott Jenkins Water Softeners are active.
These are generally a mixture of nicely appointed 2, 3 or 4-bedroom homes. But they are all lacking one key ingredient – a water softener!
We find this somewhat surprising, especially since this so much of the south-east is notorious for its hard water. As one of the most experienced and dedicated companies specialising in water softeners and soft water systems, SJWS are ideally placed to assist new homebuyers with all their soft water and drinking water requirements. It’s what we do best!
Soft water can provide numerous benefits to us all. If you are a Cala customer, who is considering introducing a water softener into your wonderful new home, read on to find out how softened water could transform your household’s lifestyle.
Cala New Builds in West Sussex
Chichester
SHOPWYKE LAKES
Sheerwater Way, Chichester PO20 2JQ
Lancing
NEW MONKS PARK
Hayley Road, Lancing BN15 9HG
Horsham
CALA AT MOWBRAY
Rusper Road, Horsham RH12 4QR
Cala New Builds in Surrey
Chertsey
ST PETER’S QUARTER
Stonehill Road, Chertsey, KT16 OAG
Bagshot
WOODSIDE GROVE
Chapel Lane, Bagshot, GU19 5DE
Oxshott
TREETOPS
Leatherhead Road, Oxshott, KT22 0EZ
Farnham
FOLLY HEIGHTS
Folly Hill, Farnham, GU9 0AX
Godalming
OCKFORD PARK
Aarons Hill, Godalming GU7 2LG
Cala New Builds in Hampshire
Winchester
KINGS BARTON
Granadiers Road, Winchester SO22 6GR
Alton
RIVERMEAD GARDENS
Lower Turk Street, Alton, GU34 2PS
Water Softeners are VAT Exempt for New-Build Property Homeowners
For anyone about to move into a brand-new Cala Home, this could be your lucky day! If you buy a water softener – right now – before you even take up residence – you could make an immediate saving of 20% on the product.
Yes, indeed!
So how is this possible? The situation is that, as long as the property you are buying has yet to be signed off, if you decide to have a water softener installed before that date, then the cost of the water softener will not be subject to VAT. It is zero rated for VAT.
The reason is that water softeners are classed as white goods and, as such, are eligible for VAT exemption as far as new build homes are concerned.
It’s always an exciting time when you move into a pristine new house or apartment. Now you can add to that sense of expectation by selecting a high performance, energy saving water softener – at a 20% discount!
Claiming your 20% VAT exemption
By having a water softener fitted prior to the moving-in date, you are entitled to claim a VAT refund on the product. To be eligible, you must apply to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within 3 months of the installation being carried out.
To reiterate, the water softener will only be zero-rated for VAT if the installation is undertaken during the construction phase of the property, or certainly in very close succession to it. Please be advised that your water softener won’t qualify for a zero VAT rating once the building work is completed.
If you aren’t sure how to claim back the 20% VAT, don’t fret. We’ve been through this process with new customers on many occasions and will be pleased to help you with all the relevant paperwork.
Why is the water so hard throughout Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey?
Across much of south-east England – especially in coastal regions – living with hard water is a way of life. We can’t blame it on the rain, since rainwater is naturally soft wherever it falls. The problem is what happens to the rainfall once it reaches the soil in this neck of the woods.
The counties of East and West Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey lie on predominantly chalk or limestone-based soil. These soil types are abundant in minerals like calcium and magnesium. Once the rain seeps into the underlay, the calcium and magnesium have the effect of turning the water hard. It’s nature’s way!
Although water hardness levels vary across the region, typically they are around or above 250 parts per million (ppm). Sometimes quite a bit higher. On the water hardness scale, any reading over 200ppm is deemed to be hard, with 300ppm being almost tin hat in the shower time! A water softener in your home will bring these levels down to nearly zero.
Here’s why water softeners improve your lifestyle
If you are a local homeowner and aren’t overly enamoured with nothing but hard water flowing out of the taps and showerheads, the best advice is to have a water softener fitted. The benefits will be immediate! Our skin and hair love softened water because it allows them to retain their natural shine, colour and vibrancy. Conversely, hard water just washes the living daylights out of everything. It’s the same with laundry. Clothing, towels and bed linen all feel much softer to the touch if they are fortunate enough to be washed in soft water.
When it comes to cleaning around the home, water softeners make life so much easier – and cheaper. You see, hard water is the main cause of limescale – which is horrible once it accumulates. And it will keep returning for as long as you persist with hard water. On the other hand, water softeners stop scale build-up in its tracks, preventing it from collecting in household appliances, like dishwashers, washing machines, kettles and even irons.
Cleaning kitchens and bathrooms is also much more straightforward with soft water on the go. It means less elbow grease and expense, because surfaces aren’t always stained with limescale, so they retain their natural shine for longer and use less detergents in the process.
A water softener will also help reduce your energy bills
After you’ve taken possession of your new home – complete with a high-quality water softener – you’ll be able to save money immediately. How come? Well, the water softener will safeguard the central heating system from accumulating any limescale build-up. If you don’t have a water softener in situ, very quickly – within the space of a few short months – the system will start clogging up with scale and the boiler will become seriously downgraded. This will dramatically cut its natural lifespan – and they aren’t cheap to replace!
In eradicating hard water, your heating system and household appliances will work to maximum efficiency – for much longer. Softened water will provide you with significant savings on your fuel bills, meaning your hard-earned money goes that much further.
And it will all be down to the wise decision you made to have a water softener installed in your new Cala home!
For further information or to book your installation time, call SJ Water Softeners today on 01243 607494 or email or scott@sjbs.info