Home Owners
Landlords
I’m thinking about buying a property. Why should I
check the Home Report?
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. Why should I
check the Home Report?
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.
The Energy Report will help
you to make more ‘green’
choices by comparing energy
costs between homes.
Tenants
If you would like more information about the
Home Report, or if you have any comments about
this leaflet, please contact:
Development and Strategy Team,
Private Sector Advice,
North Ayrshire Council, 5th Floor,
Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE.
Phone: 01294 324644 / Fax: 01294 324624
Email: [email protected]
www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk
This document is available in other formats such as
audio tape, CD, Braille and in large print. It can also
be made available in other languages on request.
Home Reports
Advice for buyers
and sellers
If you are looking to buy a
property and believe that
you have been denied a
Home Report unlawfully,
you should contact our
Trading Standards Service
on 01294 324 900.
What is a Home Report?
A Home Report is a set of
documents that provide 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
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 Report – gives details of the property’s energyefficiency 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 house 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.
However, you, 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; or
•is not a person you would want to sell the house to.
But you must not discriminate against anybody, and you
may face a fine for failing to provide a Home Report (unless
any of the reasons above apply).
If you are looking to buy a property and believe that you
have been denied a Home Report unlawfully, you should
contact our Trading Standards Service on 01294 324 900.
The seller of a
property will
have to pay for
a surveying firm
to carry out a
Home Report.
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.