Conservatory invoice template UK (2026): lean-to, CIS and VAT

A conservatory invoice has to explain what was surveyed, founded, framed, glazed and finished — not a vague “conservatory done” line. “Supply and install conservatory as agreed” does not tell a householder whether a lean-to, Victorian, Edwardian or orangery-style package was included, whether the base and dwarf walls were in your scope, or whether the polycarbonate or glass roof was free-issue. It does not tell a main contractor’s QS which plot, purchase order or package to release. It does not tell a CIS contractor how much is labour and how much is the direct cost of the prefabricated unit, base materials, seals, electrical first fix and flooring you paid for.

The payer and the operation both matter. A conservatory specialist billing a private householder for work on their own home sends a normal invoice: no CIS. The same firm billing a main contractor, developer or refurbishment principal for construction operations can be inside CIS. HMRC’s CISR14100 explicitly treats the construction of conservatories, greenhouses and garden sheds as construction operations if based on a foundation — Finance Act 2004 section 74(2)(a). When conservatory works form part of a wider preparatory or finishing package (scaffold, insulation as part of the project, integral fittings), CISR14240 is also relevant. Private householders are not CIS contractors — see the public CIS overview.

VAT is separate. If you are VAT-registered, an ordinary lean-to or Victorian conservatory on an occupied existing dwelling is usually standard-rated at 20%. The internet myth that conservatories are “VAT free” is wrong for the typical lived-in house. Reduced or zero rates under VAT Notice 708 only apply when narrow conditions are met — do not invent 0% or 5% for a normal lean-to on a lived-in home. Soften absolute claims; check Notice 708 and your VAT adviser. Architect, surveyor and design fees are usually standard-rated even when some construction services on a project are reduced-rated.

This guide gives copy-paste fields, a labour/materials split for conservatory packages (including prefab units), deposits and stages, four worked examples and a practical treatment of CIS, VAT and domestic reverse charge. Figures are illustrative only, not UK market rates or a price list. InvoiceAdept does not decide CIS or VAT status and does not file CIS300, VAT returns, Making Tax Digital updates or Self Assessment to HMRC. It does not issue Building Control completion certificates, planning permissions or Party Wall awards.

Related templates: extension, loft conversion, builder, glazier, scaffolder, deposit invoice, domestic reverse charge and how to invoice a UK client as a tradesperson. This page focuses on residential conservatories — lean-to, Victorian, Edwardian, orangery-style packages, supply-only frames and roof repairs — not full house extensions or stand-alone garden rooms without a conservatory brief.

Rules and links were checked for this guide on 5 September 2026. General information only, not tax, legal, Building Regulations, Party Wall or planning advice. InvoiceAdept is from Tech Me Today Ltd, Companies House 15917255, ICO ZB944663.

In short

Start by identifying who pays you, what conservatory type you supplied or installed, whether the structure sits on a foundation, and whether the contract is supply-only or supply-and-install.

Private householder, own-home conservatory: no CIS. The householder is not a CIS contractor. If VAT-registered, an ordinary lean-to / Victorian / Edwardian conservatory at an existing lived-in home is usually 20%. Show survey, base/foundations, dwarf walls, frame, roof (polycarb or glass), doors/windows, electrical, flooring, seals and snag clearly. Do not claim “VAT free” because it is a conservatory.

Conservatory package for a CIS contractor: typically within CIS when a contractor pays you for construction of a conservatory based on a foundation (CISR14100 — FA04/S74(2)(a) explicitly includes conservatories, greenhouses and garden sheds on foundations). Cite CISR14240 when works sit inside a wider finishing or preparatory package (scaffold, insulation as part of the project). Split labour from materials at direct cost (CISR15060 / CISR15090). For a prefabricated conservatory purchased complete, materials are usually the purchase cost of the unit; labour is the install — consistent with the MMC / prefabricated notes in CISR14100.

Manufacture and delivery of materials only (no install): generally outside CIS (CISR14220). A mixed contract that supplies a prefab conservatory and includes installation can pull the whole contract into CIS (CISR14020 mixed-contract manuals).

VAT reduced rate (5%) or zero: only when Notice 708 conditions are actually met. Ordinary conservatories on an occupied house stay 20%. Never reverse-charge a householder. Never invent 0% for a normal lean-to.

Take a deposit before ordering the frame, roof panels, glass or base materials if your terms require one. Number and invoice that deposit. Then use recognisable stages: survey / deposit, base and dwarf walls, frame and roof weathertight, finishes / electrical / snag. Keep variations for glass upgrades, extra doors, electrical adds or flooring changes separate from the agreed package.

Use the invoice generator for a first invoice. InvoiceAdept Free is £0 for five invoices per month. Pro is £7.99 excl VAT and includes WhatsApp send. Pro+ is £12.99 excl VAT and includes CIS. Stripe’s own fees apply (UK cards 1.5%+20p), but InvoiceAdept adds no platform fee.

Who this conservatory invoice template is for

This template is for UK conservatory installers, glazing firms that deliver conservatory packages, builders who add conservatories as a defined product, and subcontractors who dig bases, build dwarf walls, erect frames or glaze roofs and need readable invoices for householders, landlords, builders and housing clients. It covers the paperwork pattern, not a price list and not a Building Control or planning document.

• Conservatory specialists (lean-to, Victorian, Edwardian, orangery-style)

• Glaziers and window firms offering conservatory packages

• Builders who include conservatories in residential packages

• Groundworkers and base crews billing conservatory foundations and slabs

• Bricklayers building dwarf walls under frames

• Roof and glazing crews fitting polycarbonate or glass roofs

• Electricians billing conservatory lighting / sockets as part of a package (or separately)

• Subcontractors to main contractors on residential conservatory packages

• Sole traders and limited companies who need CIS and VAT lines that match the payer

If your day job is full house extensions, loft conversions or stand-alone scaffolding hire without a conservatory focus, use the related extension, loft or scaffolder guides and come back here for the conservatory-specific lines.

Three conservatory jobs, three invoices

These three jobs can use similar frames and roofs but need different invoice logic.

A main contractor can be the CIS contractor even when the finished conservatory serves a tenant or homeowner. If the builder engages you, your invoice is to that builder. That contractor-to-subcontractor payment is the one to test. If the householder hires and pays you directly, the householder invoice has no CIS.

What conservatory work belongs on the invoice

Do not compress a multi-week conservatory into “supply and install conservatory”. Describe survey, base, dwarf walls, frame, roof, openings, services and finishes, and what another firm supplied.

Conservatory types to name clearly on the face of the invoice

What a UK conservatory invoice must include

UK invoices need the basics HMRC and customers expect. See GOV.UK invoicing guidance. For VAT-registered traders, VAT invoices need the extra fields in that guidance and your VAT registration number.

VAT registration threshold is £90,000 (see VAT registration). Do not use outdated £85,000 figures. Deemed contractor status for CIS turns on construction spend of more than £3 million in the relevant period — never quote £1 million as the current threshold.

Copy-paste conservatory invoice fields

Use this as a checklist when building the invoice in software or on paper.

Invoice number: CON-2026-00XX
Invoice date:
Tax point (if different):

From:
[Trading name]
[Address]
[Phone / email]
[VAT number if registered]
[Company number if limited]

Bill to:
[Householder OR contractor company name]
[Site address / plot / PO]

Job reference / quote number:
Property / conservatory type: [lean-to | Victorian | Edwardian | orangery-style | repair roof | supply-only]
Base / foundation: [yes — type … | existing slab | by others]
Roof: [polycarbonate | glass | mixed]
Drawing / Building Control ref (if any):

Line items:
1. Survey / design / access / scaffold — £…
2. Strip-out / preparation — £…
3. Base / foundations — materials at direct cost £… ; labour £…
4. Dwarf walls / upstands — £…
5. Prefab / frame unit at purchase cost (materials) — £…
6. Frame erect / install labour — £…
7. Roof panels, seals and flashings — materials £… ; labour £…
8. Doors / windows / openings — materials £… ; fit labour £…
9. Electrical first/second fix — £…
10. Flooring / finishes / snag — £…
11. Variation [ref] — £…
Less: Deposit credit INV-… — (£…)
Less: CIS deduction (if applicable) — (£…)
VAT (or reverse charge statement) — £…
Amount due — £…

Payment: bank details / Stripe
Due date:
CIS: UTR … Verification … Rate 20% / 30% / 0% gross (contractor jobs only)
Building Control: fee charged separately / by client — ref …
Planning / permitted development: client responsibility / noted separately

Sole trader versus limited company

InvoiceAdept supports both patterns. It does not file your CIS300 or VAT return either way.

Labour versus materials for conservatory CIS

For CIS, materials at direct cost can be excluded from the deduction base (CISR15060 / CISR15090). Mark-up is not materials. Free-issue frames, glass or polycarb from the contractor are not your materials — note them as free-issue so you do not claim them in the materials exclusion.

For a prefabricated conservatory unit purchased complete, treat the purchase cost of the unit as materials and the installation as labour, in line with the prefabricated / modern methods of construction notes reflected in CISR14100. Keep the supplier invoice on file.

CIS deep dive: conservatories on foundations

Prefer CISR14100 as the primary cite. HMRC states that construction of conservatories, greenhouses and garden sheds is within construction operations if based on a foundation (Finance Act 2004 s74(2)(a)). Digging a base, building dwarf walls, erecting a frame on that foundation and weatherproofing abutments are fabric works, not a soft service.

Cite CISR14240 when conservatory works sit inside preparatory or finishing operations that bring a wider construction project to completion — for example scaffolding erected for the conservatory package, or fitting thermal insulation as part of a wider project.

CISR14220 generally keeps manufacture and delivery of materials without installation outside CIS. If your contract mixes supply of a prefab conservatory with any install, mixed-contract rules can bring the whole payment into CIS — see CISR14020.

CIS deduction rates for subcontractors: 20% if verified, 30% if unverified, 0% with gross payment status. Show the rate and verification outcome the contractor applied. InvoiceAdept can help format CIS lines on Pro+; it does not file the contractor’s CIS300.

VAT: the “VAT free conservatory” myth versus Notice 708

Keep three buckets clear. Soften absolute claims; your VAT adviser and VAT Notice 708 win over blog wording.

Architects, surveyors, designers and consultants are usually standard-rated even when some construction services on the same project are reduced-rated. Do not bundle professional fees into a reduced-rate claim without checking.

Also check Notice 708 for zero-rating on qualifying new dwellings — that is not the normal occupied-home conservatory case. An ordinary lean-to on a lived-in semi is not “VAT free”. VAT registration threshold remains £90,000.

Domestic reverse charge

Domestic reverse charge may apply when all of these hold: both parties VAT-registered; the supply is construction services reported within CIS; the rate would otherwise be standard or reduced (not zero); and the customer is not an end user. Never reverse-charge a private householder. See InvoiceAdept’s domestic reverse charge invoice guide.

Scaffold, glazing and specialist trades on the invoice

Conservatory jobs often need access and almost always involve glazing. How you show those lines changes clarity and sometimes CIS/VAT paperwork.

Deposits and staged payments for conservatory packages

Conservatory jobs burn cash on frames, glass, polycarb and base materials before the customer sees a weathertight room. If your terms require a deposit, raise a numbered deposit invoice before ordering stock, then credit it on stage or final invoices. See the deposit invoice template.

Figures for deposit percentages are commercial choices — mark them illustrative only when you show examples. Do not invent “industry standard” percentages.

Variations and retention

Extra bi-folds, glass roof instead of polycarb, electrical socket adds, underfloor heating, flooring upgrades, or client-driven size changes should be written variations referencing the original quote — not silent increases on the final total.

If 5% retention is held to practical completion or end of defects on a contractor package, show retention withheld and later retention released on separate lines so cash collected matches the certificate. Do not bury retention inside a vague “balance” line.

For householders, keep consumer-friendly stage language. Do not paste commercial retention machinery onto a domestic conservatory unless the written contract actually uses it.

Worked examples A–D

All money figures below are illustrative only. They are not market rates, quotes or a price list.

Example A — domestic lean-to for a householder (20% VAT, no CIS)

Private householder; lean-to polycarbonate conservatory on new base; no CIS.

No CIS block. Deposit of £3,000 (illustrative) would appear as a separate numbered invoice then as a credit on stage or final invoices.

Example B — contractor Victorian package (CIS 20%, reverse charge)

VAT-registered subcontractor to VAT-registered main contractor; Victorian-style conservatory on foundation as finishing package; CIS verified 20%; reverse charge applies (illustrative assumption that tests are met).

Show UTR, verification and reverse-charge wording clearly. Prefab unit purchase sits in materials at what you paid (CISR15060 / CISR15090; prefab treatment consistent with CISR14100).

Example C — domestic reverse charge not applicable (householder) vs contractor DRC reminder

This example contrasts faces — same physical lean-to — to stop reverse-charge mistakes.

Never put reverse-charge wording on a householder invoice. Never omit CIS labour/materials split on a contractor package that needs it.

Example D — materials-only supply of frame/roof, no install

Supply of prefabricated conservatory frame and polycarb roof delivered to site; no erection. Generally outside CIS (CISR14220). Usually standard-rated VAT if you are registered.

If a later variation adds installation labour under the same contract, revisit mixed-contract CIS rules (CISR14020) — supply-plus-install of a prefab conservatory can pull the whole contract into CIS.

Building Control, planning and Party Wall — the invoice is not a certificate

An invoice is a request for payment and a commercial record. It is not:

• a Building Control completion or final certificate

• planning permission or lawful development / permitted development confirmation

• a Party Wall Act award

• an electrical Part P / competent person notification

• structural engineer sign-off (unless that professional issues their own document)

Conservatories often sit under permitted development assumptions or need planning depending on size, location and local rules — that is the client’s planning position, not something your invoice proves. If you collect a Building Control fee from the client, show it as a clear disbursement or fee line with the receipt reference. Do not imply the invoice itself is the approval. If Party Wall notices or awards are handled by a surveyor, keep that paperwork separate and optionally reference award numbers on the invoice (“Party Wall award PW-… issued separately”). Neighbour disputes and access licences are legal matters — not invoice line items that prove consent.

InvoiceAdept does not issue Building Control certificates, planning permissions or Party Wall awards.

Late payment (brief)

The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 is a B2B regime, not an automatic right against private householders. For qualifying commercial debts, statutory interest is Bank Rate plus eight percentage points under SI 2002/1675. Bank Rate was held at 3.75% on 30 July 2026, so the statutory rate is 11.75% a year for interest periods while that Bank Rate applies — always check the live Bank of England rate for later periods. The next Bank of England decision referenced for context is 17 September 2026. Fixed compensation bands are £40, £70 or £100 according to debt size.

Do not paste those commercial words onto a consumer householder invoice. Use fair consumer terms agreed before work, a clear due date and proportionate reminders.

Making Tax Digital means records, not filing

InvoiceAdept creates and stores invoice records. It does not file VAT returns, CIS300, MTD updates or Self Assessment to HMRC. It does not decide whether a conservatory package is standard- or reduced-rated. It does not submit Building Control notices, planning applications or Party Wall paperwork.

MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment phases in by turnover: over £50,000 from 6 April 2026; £30,000 from April 2027; £20,000 from April 2028. InvoiceAdept keeps records; it does not submit quarterly updates.

How InvoiceAdept helps conservatory installers

InvoiceAdept helps turn a quote and stage history into readable invoices without claiming to be HMRC software or a Building Control platform.

You can separate survey, base, dwarf walls, prefab unit, install labour, roof, doors, electrical, materials, deposits and variations; send the PDF; and offer Stripe payment where enabled. InvoiceAdept adds no platform fee to Stripe, though Stripe’s own fees apply (UK cards 1.5%+20p). See pricing, CIS invoice features and start from the invoice generator.

Quote versus invoice versus retention on contractor packages

A quote is an offer. An invoice is a request for payment against agreed or certified work. Retention is a contract term, not a tax rule.

Mistakes that bounce conservatory invoices

FAQ

Does a conservatory come under CIS?

Often yes when a CIS contractor pays you for construction of a conservatory based on a foundation. CISR14100 explicitly includes conservatories, greenhouses and garden sheds if based on a foundation (FA04/S74(2)(a)). Use CISR14240 when works are part of a preparatory or finishing package. A private householder paying you directly is not a CIS contractor.

Does a householder deduct CIS from a conservatory installer?

No. A private householder is not a CIS contractor. Domestic conservatory invoices should not carry CIS deduction blocks.

Are lean-to, Victorian and Edwardian conservatories within CIS for contractor jobs?

Typically yes when a contractor pays for construction of a conservatory on a foundation (CISR14100), or as finishing/prep within a wider package (CISR14240). Split labour and materials; show UTR and verification as your process requires.

What if I only supply the frame or roof with no installation?

Manufacture and delivery without installation is generally outside CIS (CISR14220). Mixed contracts that also include install need careful reading of the mixed-contract rules (CISR14020) — supply-plus-install of a prefab conservatory can pull the whole contract into CIS.

How do I treat a prefabricated conservatory unit for CIS?

If you purchased the complete unit, materials are usually the purchase cost of that unit; labour is the installation. Keep the supplier invoice. This aligns with prefabricated / MMC notes reflected in CISR14100. Free-issue units from the contractor are not your materials.

What can I treat as materials for CIS on a conservatory job?

The direct cost of materials you paid for on that contract — prefab unit, concrete, bricks, polycarb/glass panels, seals, doors, fixings, cable — supported by evidence (CISR15060 / CISR15090). Mark-up is not direct-cost material. Free-issue materials from the contractor are not your materials.

Is a conservatory VAT free in the UK?

Usually no. An ordinary lean-to or Victorian conservatory on an occupied existing home is typically standard-rated at 20% if you are VAT-registered. The “VAT free conservatory” claim is a common myth for that case. Soften absolute claims; check VAT Notice 708 and your adviser.

When can conservatory works be 5% VAT?

Possibly when Notice 708 conditions for a qualifying residential conversion, empty-home renovation (typically empty 2+ years), or non-residential to dwelling conversion are met. Soften absolute claims; document the facts and take VAT advice. Calling a room an “orangery” or adding bi-folds does not create a 5% claim on an occupied house.

When does reverse charge apply to conservatory invoices?

When the domestic reverse charge tests are met: both parties VAT-registered, the supply is construction services reported within CIS, standard or reduced (not zero), and the customer is not an end user. Never reverse-charge a householder. See the DRC invoice guide.

Should I invoice a deposit before ordering the frame, glass or polycarb?

If your terms require a deposit, yes — raise a numbered deposit invoice, then credit it on stage or final invoices. See the deposit invoice template.

How should I invoice a glass roof upgrade or extra bi-fold?

As a written variation referencing the original quote, not as a silent increase on the final total.

How should scaffold appear on my conservatory invoice?

If you hired it, show a clear access/scaffold line with ticket and period. If a scaffolder bills separately, note “scaffold by others”. See the scaffolder invoice template.

Does InvoiceAdept file CIS, VAT or MTD returns, or issue Building Control / planning certificates?

No. It creates and stores invoices. CIS features are on Pro+ at £12.99 excl VAT; Pro is £7.99 excl VAT with WhatsApp send; Free is five invoices per month. It does not file CIS300, VAT returns, MTD updates or Self Assessment and does not decide tax status. It does not issue Building Control certificates, planning permissions or Party Wall awards.

What CIS rates should appear if the contractor deducts?

20% verified, 30% unverified, or 0% with gross payment status — whatever verification outcome applies. InvoiceAdept does not verify you with HMRC.

Is the VAT registration threshold still £90,000?

Yes — £90,000. Do not use £85,000. Deemed contractor construction spend is more than £3 million, not £1 million.

Related guides

• Extension invoice template UK

• Loft conversion invoice template UK

• Builder invoice template UK

• Glazier invoice template UK

• Scaffolder invoice template UK

• Deposit invoice template UK

• Domestic reverse charge invoice UK

• How to invoice a client UK tradesperson

Pricing · CIS invoices · Invoice generator

About this guide

Written for UK conservatory installers, glaziers and subcontractors who need householder and contractor invoices that survive QS review and CIS/VAT scrutiny. Last reviewed 5 September 2026. Canonical URL: https://invoiceadept.com/blog/invoicing/conservatory-invoice-template-uk/.

General information only — not tax, legal, Building Regulations, Party Wall or planning advice. InvoiceAdept is a product of Tech Me Today Ltd, Companies House 15917255, ICO ZB944663.

Bottom line

Name the conservatory type, base/foundation and roof. Split labour and materials for CIS — and remember CISR14100 puts conservatories on foundations in scope when a contractor pays. Keep householder invoices free of CIS. Treat VAT carefully — ordinary occupied-home conservatories are usually 20%, not VAT-free. Use deposits and variations for multi-stage packages. InvoiceAdept helps you issue the paperwork; it does not file HMRC returns or issue certificates.