Research to inform the Five Year Review of the Home Report

The Home Report was introduced on 1 December 2008, with Scottish Ministers committed to a review after five years of operation. The review commenced on 5 December 2013 and comprised a public consultation and a research study. The findings from the public consultation were published on 7 May 2014. Ipsos Scotland was commissioned with Rettie & Co. to conduct the research study.

Review objectives

The research study examined how the Home Report has performed over the past five years. The study had five key objectives, namely to:

• 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
• identify any wider impacts of the Home Report on the housing market.

Review methods

This research comprised four main strands:

• analysis of market performance data
• postal, self-completion survey among property buyers and sellers
• face-to-face survey of prospective buyers and sellers
• qualitative research comprising in-depth interviews and focus groups among housing industry professionals, stakeholders, and buyers and sellers.

Key findings

Almost all buyers and sellers were aware of the Home Report but many did not understand its detail or status.

Buyers and sellers were generally positive about the Home Report and how it helped them in the home buying/selling process. However, industry professionals thought the report was too long and that the language was too technical.

Many industry professionals were concerned by what they saw as a conflict of interest between buyers, sellers and surveyors. The surveyor must produce a report that will be used by both the seller and buyer, two parties that have opposing interests in the property transaction.

While the review could not conclude whether or not the Home Report had improved the condition of the housing stock, the other two original objectives had largely been met.

Significant changes in the housing market in Scotland in the last five years were likely to have occurred due to wider economic forces rather than as a direct result of the Home Report.

The full report can be accessed here.