Do you need a Home Report before marketing starts?
Key Takeaways
- In Scotland, a Home Report must be prepared by the seller before the property is publicly marketed.
- A property is considered “on the market” once it’s advertised or otherwise communicated as available for sale.
- If a buyer requests a copy of the Home Report, the seller (or agent) has nine days to provide it unless they reasonably believe the requester isn’t genuinely interested or cannot afford the property.
- The Home Report requirement covers most private sales, some exemptions apply, but they are limited.
- The seller cannot put the property on the market without the Home Report; arranging it should be one of the first steps in the selling process.
The short answer is yes. Read on for more information.
The person responsible for marketing the house must posses the Home Report as soon as the house goes on the market (source: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/BuyingSelling/Home-Report/sellers/faqs)
A house is on the market when the fact that it is or may become available for sale is, with a view to marketing the house, made public in Scotland by, or on behalf of the seller. A fact is made public when it is advertised or otherwise communicated (in whatever form and by whatever means) to the public or a section of the public'. (Source: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/BuyingSelling/Home-Report/prof/faqs/Q/editmode/on/forceupdate/on)
If a buyer requests a copy of the Home Report, the seller or their agent has 9 days to provide them with a copy (unless they believe the requester could not afford the property, is not genuinely interested or is a person to whom they would not sell the home). These 9-days do NOT mean that a property can go on the market without a Home Report and be ordered once a request has been received.