Housing Bill approved by Parliament
25 Nov 05
Single survey and purchasers' packs on their way by 2007
The Housing (Scotland) Bill, which introduces the single survey scheme for domestic property transactions and gives extensive new rights to private tenants, has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.
The bill received its third reading yesterday and now goes forward for royal assent. The property sale provisions are expected to come into force in 2007. Before then, ministers will specify the information to be contained in the purchasers' information pack, which sellers will have to give out when a property is put on the market.
For private sector tenants, the bill gives new rights to a basic standard of accommodation to which landlords must adhere, and sets up a Private Rented Housing Panel to provide a route of appeal if the landlord fails to carry out repairs. It also gives ministers powers to approve a tenancy deposit scheme, to help resolve disputes over the refund of a rent deposit.
Among other measures, the bill:
restates legislation on the licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), and increases the maximum fine for letting an unlicensed HMO from £5,000 to £20,000; gives councils new powers to deal with poorly maintained buildings which are likely to lead to serious disrepair, and enhanced powers to address housing problems in run-down areas; allows councils to decide what sort of support is appropriate in individual circumstances where owners need help with repairs - such as advice, practical assistance and loans, as well as grants, with power to ministers to make directions about the way councils provide assistance; ensures ministers must prepare a strategy for improving the energy efficiency of houses and flats and report back to Parliament after five years. Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said: "The current system cannot be right if most people make what may be the biggest purchase of their lives with only basic information about the condition of the property.
"So the single survey, commissioned by sellers at the start of the marketing process, will provide in depth, quality information to buyers about the condition of the house.
"Having a detailed survey at the outset, giving buyers an accurate valuation to offer an appropriate price, will reduce the problem of multiple surveys, which can costs buyers hundreds of pounds and leave them with nothing.
"It will also help stop sellers setting artificially low asking prices which gives buyers false hope. This will greatly simplify the buying and selling process for everyone."
After commending the increased protections for tenants, he concluded:
"In the past five years, we've come a long way in addressing Scotland's housing needs, including improvements in the quality of homes in the social rented sector. Now it's time to focus on the private sector. The Housing Bill does this, and I believe that it will have a huge impact on standards in the private housing market."