It is a legal requirement since December 2008 to have a Home Report in Scotland before marketing a home. New build properties don’t require one nor do off market sales, provided no marketing takes place at all. Gibson Kerr’s property lawyers can advise you on every aspect of the preparation of a Scottish Home Report.
What is a Scottish Home Report report?
Essentially, it’s a document which tells prospective purchaser about the condition of a property.What information does a Scottish Home Report contain?
It contains 3 elements:-- Single Survey – prepared by a chartered surveyor. The surveyors opinion of current market value and contains a full report on the condition of the property, laid out in a standard format, so it’s easy to compare one property with another. It also tells you about the urgency of repairs:-
- Category 1 – no action or repair is required
- Category 2 – repairs are required in the future, but estimates are recommended now
- Category 3 – Urgent repairs requiring attention now
- Energy Performance Certificate, prepared by the surveyor who carries out the single survey. It grades a property’s energy efficiency and environmental friendliness on a scale A – G, with recommendations as to steps which can be taken to improve the grading.
- Property Questionnaire – prepared by the Seller and giving information about parking, council tax band, contribution to maintenance, central heating, alterations and other practical information useful to a purchaser.