PCA Welcomes Greater Transparency on Scottish Home Sales

New rules which give Scottish homebuyers comprehensive information for the first time have been welcomed by leading building maintenance trade body, the Property Care Association (PCA).

The new Home Report system places the onus on the seller to provide a detailed survey – and the information required is far more rigorous than under the former system where many buyers relied on a simple valuation survey.

Yasmin Chopin, executive director of the PCA, which represents the damp-proofing and timber preservation sector, as well as the structural maintenance, structural waterproofing and flood remediation industries, believes the new system – which came into force on December 1, 2008 - will encourage home owners to carry out essential repairs and drive up housing standards.

She said: “The advantages to sellers far outweigh the cost. Rather than being dissuaded from entering the market, prudent sellers will have their home fully inspected, having any concerns identified and estimated.

“They will take guidance on whether to have any defects remedied and then sell the property in a state of best repair.”

“The scheme aims to cut the cost to potential buyers, who may previously have surveys done on several homes before deciding which to buy.

“As a result the majority of people looking for a home have relied on a less comprehensive valuation survey and could potentially only discover major defects once they have moved in.”

A recent survey found that 12 per cent of buyers had to tackle repairs costing up to £5,000.

England and Wales introduced its own version of the Home Report, HIPs, last December.