Property sale questionnaire to be tested
23 Oct 06
Joint project aims to ensure better information for housebuyers
A questionnaire to help the housebuying and selling process by providing more information to potential buyers is to be tested in parts of Scotland.
Developed jointly by the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Consumer Council, the National Association of Estate Agents, and Communities Scotland for the Executive, the property sale questionnaire (PSQ) will also provide surveyors with more information before they visit the property to carry out a survey.
Thirty-five solicitors and estate agents have agreed to participate in the pilot, in areas including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Fife, Inverness, Galashiels, Perth, Oban and Arran. Over a period of 10-12 weeks the questionnaire will be tested on "live" residential property transactions of different types and values in urban and rural markets. A research company will fully evaluate the test, with the results being available early in 2007.
Early alert
The PSQ is intended to be completed by the seller, with advice and assistance from their solicitor or estate agent. It will cover a variety of matters including council tax band, information on any structural alterations and other issues that may assist the conveyancing process.
If, for example, the seller declares in the questionnaire that they have carried out any alterations to the property, the PSQ will alert the selling solicitor at an early stage of the need to obtain any necessary documentation and consents that might be required by the buyer’s solicitor during the conveyancing process.
Delays can occur if these issues only come to light at a late stage in the transaction, as commonly happens, adding to the stress for the client. The test will assess the effectiveness of the PSQ in making information available and smoothing the conveyancing process.
The inclusion of the PSQ is not expected to add any extra complexity to the buying and selling process. Many selling agents already ask sellers to complete a questionnaire, although at present they are not usually shared with the buyer. Under the new scheme a copy of the completed PSQ will be provided to potential purchasers, surveyors, and purchasing solicitors.
Collaboration
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm, said: “We are committed to improving the information available for people involved in making the decisions about buying and selling a home.
“Working with the professionals involved, Communities Scotland is working to develop the processes that will bring straightforward solutions to help buyers and sellers.
“It is proposed that the PSQ will be included in an information pack and the test will greatly assist in its delivery. We welcome the support of the professionals involved and will fully analyse the results of the questionnaire’s use in the market."
Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, said: "We have always supported improvements to the current system, and the new property information pack as proposed in Scotland meets the consumer's needs for more information, without onerous levels of documentation."
John MacKinnon, Vice President of Law Society of Scotland said: “The Society fully endorses the PSQ initiative and believes it will improve the house buying and selling system in Scotland.”
Once the seller's survey is introduced under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, the PSQ would form part of an information pack which would also contain a copy of the survey.