What is a Home Report?
A Home Report is a set of documents that provides buyers and sellers with information about the condition and value of a property before they sell or offer to buy a property.
Home Reports have three parts:
- single survey – gives detailed information about the condition of all parts of a property before it is put up for sale. In Scotland, details of how accessible a home is will now be mentioned in the report
- property questionnaire – contains extra information about facilities and maintenance arrangements for the property, including information about the council tax band, parking facilities, and any alterations that have been made to the property
- energy performance report – gives details of the property’s energy efficiency rating and the effect it has on the environment through carbon-dioxide emissions
Who should put together the Home Report?
The Home Report must be filled in by the seller of the property or their selling agent (usually a solicitor or estate agent). A chartered surveyor must fill in the single survey and energy report. The seller of the property must fill in the property questionnaire.
Does the property need a Home Report?
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 states that any property being advertised for sale in Scotland after 1 December 2008 must have a Home Report.
The person responsible for putting a property up for sale, usually the seller or estate agent, must provide a Home Report to anyone thinking about buying the property.
Anyone interested in buying the property who asks for a copy of the Home Report, must be provided with one within nine working days of their request. Failing to provide a Home Report can result in a fine (unless any of the reasons below apply).
However, if selling, your solicitor or your estate agent do not need to provide a Home Report if you believe that the person asking for a copy:
- can’t afford to buy the house
- is not seriously interested in buying the house
- is not a person you would want to sell the house to (but this does not allow you to unlawfully discriminate against someone)
If you are looking to buy a property and believe that you have been denied a Home Report unlawfully, you should contact the Trading Standards Team on 01294 324 950.
What does it cost?
The seller of a property will have to pay for a surveying firm to carry out a Home Report. The cost will be set by the firm and can vary depending on the size of the property. If you are selling your home you should compare different quotes before you make a decision.
If you are selling a property through your solicitor or estate agent, they can arrange for a Home Report to be carried out. You should remember that the surveying firm may include a commission payment in their final charge. You should always ask your solicitor or estate agent what commission is being paid before letting them arrange your Home Report.
If you are thinking about buying a property, you should get a free copy of the Home Report. However, you may have to pay a reasonable charge to cover the costs of copying and postage.
Why should I check the Home Report?
I’m thinking about buying a property
The Home Report will provide valuable information about the condition of the home you want to buy.
It will show any problems that might not have been obvious (such as dry rot or problems with the structure). This information will help you decide whether you still want to buy the property.
The energy report will help you to make more ‘green’ choices by comparing energy costs between homes. It will also give you practical advice about lowering carbon emissions and saving on your energy bills.
I’m thinking about selling my property
The Home Report will provide important information about the condition of your property.
If your home is in good condition, you can use the report to advertise the property and show that it will be a good investment for potential buyers. This will also help to make sure you receive a realistic offer for your property.
If your home has any hidden problems (such as dry rot or problems with the structure), the Home Report will show these – which means you can make any repairs needed. A property in good condition will be worth much more than one with many problems.
