Lawyers set for fight to stop Home Reports

Published on Thursday 25 September 2008 21:52

LAWYERS in Scotland are heading for a collision with the Scottish Government today when they are expected to vote against plans forcing sellers to provide detailed reports on their homes.

As of December, sellers in Scotland will have to pay for a Home Report, featuring a survey, property questionnaire and energy report, before their property goes on the market.

But members of the Scottish Law Agents' Society (SLAS) say it will "destroy" the property market North of the Border.

They are accusing the government of a "cover-up" saying the true cost of reports will be between 600-800 rather than the 300 figure quoted.

They also warn the reports have an estimated shelf life of around four weeks, not all lenders will accept them and sellers could commission a number of reports until they acquire one which does not highlight defects.

SLAS members, who are holding the historic vote at a special general meeting of the Law Society of Scotland (LSS) in Edinburgh, want the society to repeat a request that the Scottish Government postpone the reports for at least two years from 1 December.

Ken Swinton, a senior lecturer in Law and Management at the University of Abertay in Dundee and a spokesman for SLAS, said: "Solicitors believe Home Reports will destroy the already fragile Scottish property market. It is highly irresponsible of the Scottish Government to proceed with a measure which solicitors believe will bring the property market to a standstill."

But Sarah O'Neill, legal officer at the Scottish Consumer Council, said: "When it's harder than ever to get on to the first rung of the housing ladder, (first-time buyers] will pay nothing for detailed information about the value, condition and energy efficiency of the property."

Yesterday Annabel Goldie, Scottish Tory leader, urged postponing home reports in the current economic climate.

But Alex Salmond, the First Minister, said: "There are no shortage of sellers of houses at the present moment. There is a distinct shortage of buyers of houses …. because of the availability of mortgages."