When selling a property in Scotland you will need a Home Report as part of the conveyancing process.
What is a Home Report?
The Home Report is a document split into three parts that tells you everything you need to know about a property.
The three parts include:
What is a Property Questionnaire?
The third and final part of the Home Report, the Property Questionnaire is the one section that the seller is tasked with completing themselves.
The questionnaire is designed to provide buyers with information that only the current homeowner is likely to know.
This information is very useful to potential buyers before they decide to submit an offer to purchase the property. The questionnaire also minimises the risk of delays and uncertainties throughout the conveyancing process.
What is included in the Home Report Property Questionnaire?
The Home Report Property Questionnaire is by no means a small document to fill in. With around nine pages of questions relating to the property, sellers have a duty to provide information that is correct to the best of their knowledge.
Some of the questions are fairly straightforward. They include whether the property has been flooded or if there have ever been any repairs for
damp or wood rot.
However, there are other questions that may require a little more thought. In fact sellers often need the help of their conveyancing solicitor to answer some of the trickier questions of a Property Questionnaire.
Can a surveyor help complete the Property Questionnaire?
There are instances where the seller may be able to call on the help of their surveyor, who conducts the Single Survey, to help provide an answer to at least some of the questions.
For example, a surveyor will be able to note whether the seller installed replacement windows or built an extension.
It’s useful to note that sellers who have carried out work that would usually require consent need to be able to present their building warrants, planning consent and completion certificates.
There is a large element of trust in the answers given in the Property Questionnaire as surveyors will check their own findings against the answers in the questionnaire before the Single Survey is officially signed off and
conveyancing solicitors will be relying upon the answers provided.
Exploring property questionnaires FAQs
What is the difference between a survey and a Home Report in Scotland?
A Home Report is a legal requirement when selling a house in Scotland. The Home Report includes a single survey which assesses the condition and value of a property.
A building survey or a full structural survey are a more in-depth evaluation of a property. It is not compulsory but may be requested for older or unusual buildings.
How much is a Home Report in Scotland?
The cost of a Home Report typically ranges from £285 - £450. This depends on factors such as the size of the property and the surveyors used.