Home Reports
Home Reports in Scotland
A Home Report is the pack a Scottish seller must provide before marketing. It contains three parts: a single survey with a valuation, an energy performance report, and a property questionnaire completed by the seller.
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The three components
Each part does a different job for a different audience.
- Single survey — condition ratings 1 to 3 and a market valuation
- Energy report — EPC rating and improvement recommendations
- Property questionnaire — your own answers on council tax, alterations, factoring and repairs
Why the valuation figure matters so much
Lenders lend against the Home Report valuation, and buyers treat it as the reference point for what to offer over. A figure set well above the evidence deters offers; one set below it can anchor the sale low.
Condition ratings and what buyers do with them
Category 1 means no repair needed, category 2 means repairs or replacement that are not urgent, and category 3 means urgent repair or further investigation. Buyers price category 3 items heavily, often above their real cost, so a quote can be worth having.
Exceptions and validity
Certain properties are exempt, including new build and some right-to-buy sales. Where a report becomes old during a long marketing period, a buyer's lender may ask for it to be refreshed or transferred into their name.
Common questions
- How long is a Home Report valid?
- There is no fixed statutory expiry, but lenders commonly treat older reports with caution and may require a refresh or a transfer of the report to the buyer's lender.
- Can I market without one?
- Only where an exemption applies. In almost all ordinary residential sales the report must be available before marketing begins.
Not sure what your Home Report is telling you?
Send us the headline figures and condition ratings and we will explain, in plain terms, how buyers are likely to read them.
Understand My Selling OptionsOr tell us about your property here
Takes around two minutes. We will come back to you within one working day.
Home Reports
Selling because something changed?
These guides explain what usually happens in Scotland when a move is prompted by a change in circumstances. They are general information, not advice about your position.
Property needs major work
Whether to repair before selling, what the Home Report will show, and selling as-is.
Bereavement or inherited property
Confirmation, executor powers, empty-property costs and what usually happens before a sale.
Published 2026-08-17 · Last reviewed 2026-08-17. General information about selling property in Scotland, not legal, tax or financial advice. Editorial policy.