Question reference: S5W-29127
- Asked by: Gordon Lindhurst, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 18 May 2020
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 May 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to proposals to allow for the clearing of a backlog of home reports required to support housing transactions in progress.
Answer
Most housing transactions in progress are likely to have been brought to the market with valid Home Reports before 23 March lockdown. Providing a property has not been withdrawn from the market for a period exceeding four weeks, the Home Report will remain valid until the property is sold.
For any housing transactions commenced during lockdown and for those properties which will be brought to market after lockdown, a Home Report will be required. A feature of the housing market restart could mean an increased demand for Home Reports and pressure on surveyors to carry them out timeously.
My officials are discussing with industry and other stakeholders the safe reopening of the housing market and how this can be achieved in line with Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis, published on 21 May. Part of this will include the potential level of demand for surveyors to carry out Home Reports.