Analysis: Home Reports - Five years on

Chris Comfort, Associate, reviews the Home Report, 5 years after being launched.

On the 1^st of December 2008, the Home Report was launched in Scotland, with Scottish Ministers committed to a review after five years of operation. Five years have come and gone, and the Scottish Government has delivered its verdict.

Home Report Review

The review had five key objectives:

• Explore awareness, knowledge and understanding of the Home Report;
• Examine how the Home Report works in practice;
• Examine whether the Home Report is meeting its original objectives;
• Assess whether the Home Report structure works across the housing cycle as a whole; and
• Identify any wider impacts of the Home Report on the housing market.
  

The introduction of Home Reports in Scotland hoped to achieve three things: an end to multiple surveys; an end to the market – distorting practice of artificially low asking prices; and a general improvement in the housing stock.

The review found that objectives one and two have been largely accomplished. There is no longer a need for buyers to commission multiple surveys; and Home Reports have seen properties valued at realistic prices, compared to the old system in which agents could price properties at low prices in order to encourage competition.

However, the report could not confirm whether the third objective had yet been met. The report identified this as a longer term goal, because the Home Report only has the potential to influence the condition of properties put up for sale. Interestingly, however, is the fact that any improvement in the housing stock has not necessarily been driven by sellers fixing up their homes before sale. Rather, the improvements and repairs are being carried out by the buyers, having been guided by the findings of the Home Report.

The review also indentified a conflict of interest between the seller, the surveyor and the buyer, which professionals see as inherent in the process of instructing a Home Report. This has two potential outcomes: pressure being applied (by or on behalf of the seller) on the surveyor to improve the single survey, or sellers commissioning a number of single surveys in order to pick the survey with the highest market valuation.

Additional Findings

Amongst other findings in the review were that almost all buyers and sellers were aware of the Home Report but many did not understand its details. Industry professionals also commented that the report was too long and that the language too technical.

Recommendations

In the light of their findings, the report’s authors made a number of recommendations:

• The Home Report should be shorter, with a one-page summary at the front containing key information on repairs, valuation and a statement on the Home Report’s purpose and status;
• Action should be taken to address areas of misunderstanding, for example, that it is a visual survey only; and
• Issues regarding conflicts of interest should be addressed.

Conclusion

Whether or not these recommendations will be implemented, remains to be seen. However, buying a home is a huge decision and quite likely to be the biggest financial decision most people ever make. In that respect, buyers should make sure they understand the Home Report and its findings. For expert advice on Home Reports or any other aspect of the buying and selling process, ensure to contact a reputable estate agent.

Chris Comfort, Associate

@AC_ChrisC