Single Surveys on the Statute Book

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Single Surveys on the Statute Book

As part of wider reforms brought in by the Housing (Scotland) Bill, single seller surveys on property sales were approved by the Scottish Parliament by 116 votes to 1, with no abstentions.

The legislation cleared on 24 November will also require private property owners to take more responsibility for maintenance.

An amendment, proposed by the Tories, to scrap the surveys was defeated despite claims that the single seller survey pilot scheme – which was conducted in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness – had been a failure.

The scheme is expected to come into force in March 2007. It will contain more detail about properties and will simplify the buying and selling process.

Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said that the scheme was based upon two years of research and consultation. Under the new legislation a seller will buy a condition survey costing £300+, to be made available at a reduced cost to all viewers, with the successful bidder later paying the full price as part of the sale.

It is hoped that the scheme will give potential buyers more notice of possible problems than they get under the simpler valuation survey commonly chosen by househunters.

The Bill will also bring in a tenancy deposit scheme, which aims to resolve disputes over the refund of rent deposits more quickly.

Councils will get power to deal with poorly-maintained buildings, and private sector tenants will receive new rights to have repairs carried out.