Home Report Scotland FAQs

A Home Report Scotland is a crucial pack of detailed information about the condition and value of a property. Commissioned by the seller, this must be available to potential buyers before the property goes on the market. The Home Report contains three parts – the Single Survey with Valuation, the Energy Performance Certificate, and the Property Questionnaire.

Yes, a Home Report is a legal requirement and the responsibility of the seller. Anyone marketing a home in Scotland needs to provide a Home Report to potential buyers, prior to the house going on the market.

The Home Report must be prepared by a qualified Chartered Surveyor registered with RICS and includes three key documents: Single Survey with valuation, the Energy Performance Certificate, and the Property Questionnaire.The Single Survey provides a detailed report on the condition and value of a home; this is where our physical inspection takes place. The purpose of this report is to provide both the buyer and seller comprehensive information about the property’s true condition, including any alterations that have been carried out.
The condition of the property is separated into three sections – Category 1 to Category 3:

Category 1: No immediate action or repair is needed.
Category 2: Repairs or replacement requiring future attention, but estimates are still advised.
Category 3: Urgent repairs or replacement are needed now.

The Single Survey also includes an accessibility audit which is helpful to families with young children, older buyers and people with disabilities.
As well as the inspection itself, Chartered Surveyors spend time researching the area and location to create the valuation. Valuation algorithms are thoroughly analysed, taking into consideration size and location as well as the condition and other comparable evidence.
Also included within this report is the Energy Report – details of the home’s energy efficiency rating and its environmental impact in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. This report also contains recommendations on how a home’s energy efficiency can be improved.

Lastly, there is the Property Questionnaire. Completed by the seller, this questionnaire contains information for home buyers such as council tax band, parking facilities, factoring arrangements and any local authority notices. The Home Report doesn’t typically include a mortgage valuation of the property, but this can be included on request of the seller, for an additional cost. It’s not a legal requirement so always make sure you don’t end up paying a higher price for a Home Report which includes this as it only benefits the buyer.

The Home Report is intended to let the seller and the buyer know the true condition of the property, the need for repair and its market value. The objective is to remove any nasty surprises. Ideally, repairs will either be carried out or will be factored into the purchase price. However, the legislation does not require that a seller carry out any repairs. The information in the Home Report allows the property to sell with no last-minute problems, it informs the buyer and helps the buyer make an informed offer based on the Home Report valuation.

A Chartered Surveyor is the only person legally allowed to produce the Single Survey with valuation and Energy Performance Certificate, and the seller completes the Property Questionnaire which is encompassed into the final Home Report Document. At the Home Report Company, our highly experienced Chartered Surveyors, are all regulated by the RICS to carry out all Home Reports.

Here at the Home Report Company, we have offices across Scotland and our highly experienced Chartered Surveyors, are all regulated by the RICS, are available 7 days a week, at times that suit you.
Following the inspection at the property we aim to have your report ready within two working days; with the draft report being sent to you the next working day for your approval then the completed report thereafter.

There is no flat price for a Home Report as the cost varies on a range of factors: the size of the property, the value, the condition and even location. Every property is different, and prices vary accordingly. Having said that, a typical Home Report cost from a large Chartered Surveyor firm on a property in Scotland valued at around £200,000 can be anywhere between £350-£400 plus vat. Here at The Home Report Company, we are fully independent and are proud that our prices are comparably cheaper.
The property seller is responsible for providing and paying for the Home Report. There is nothing in the legislation insisting that the buyer must reimburse the seller for the cost of the Home Report.

Here at the Home Report Company, we have offices across Scotland with strong knowledge of local market conditions. Our highly experienced Chartered Surveyors are all regulated by the RICS, are ideally placed to offer expert advice on properties. And the team are available 7 days a week, at times that suit you.

We aim to be competitive and we do hope that you find our price to be the lowest. We do not act as a third party and we use our own surveyors. Our intention is to help our clients get their property on the market whilst still receiving the professional service you would expect from a professional firm.
We also keep our overheads low, that doesn’t mean you get a lesser service, in fact in many cases our clients say our service level is some of the highest within the marketplace. We just work smarter, more effectively and without the large overheads like some firms.

Yes, we also offer property valuation reports. Although not legally required, these private valuation reports are useful for many circumstances such as such as tax planning; inheritance planning; shared equity settlement; immigration purposes; private off-market sales; and insurance valuations.

It’s a common misconception that a Home Report should be less than three months old or has to be renewed. In fact, current legislation does not impose a validity period for any of the Home Report documents, only that the report is required at the time of sale. A Home Report can be updated or refreshed if a property has been on the market for a while, but this is usually just a re-inspection as opposed to a new survey.

Yes. Under Part 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, a person who is responsible for selling a house must provide a Home Report to any prospective purchasers.

New housing. New housing includes homes that may be sold ‘off-plan’ to the first purchaser or sold to the first occupier. Any subsequent sale of a home will not be exempt even if it has a certificate from, for example, the National House-Building Council (NHBC).
Newly Converted Premised. This means a property that is being or has been, converted to a home if it has not previously been used in its converted state.
Right to Buy Homes. As the sale of a home to a tenant under the ‘Right to Buy’ does not involve marketing, the duty to provide a Home Report does not apply.
Seasonal and Holiday Accommodation. This exception refers to seasonal and holiday accommodation (as defined in planning legislation), which only has permission to be used for less than 11 months in any year. It does not include second homes or holiday cottages that could be used all year if the owner so chose.
Mixed Sales. This occurs where a home is sold with one or more non-residential properties (provided it is clear that the seller does not intend to consider an offer to buy the home separately from the non-residential property).
Dual Use of a Dwelling House. Where the home is, or forms part of, a property most recently used for both residential and non-residential purposes, such as a commercial studio where the owner also lives in the home.
Unsafe or properties to be demolished.
Commercial properties.