A Home Report typically costs between £300 and £550 (excluding VAT) for a property priced at the Scottish average of £197,000. Costs can vary depending on the property’s size, age, condition, and value.
Home Reports are a legal requirement when selling a home in Scotland, and unlike in other parts of the UK, the seller is responsible for arranging and paying for it. Once completed, the report must be made available to prospective buyers.
In this guide, we break down how much you can expect to pay, what’s included in a Home Report, and any extra costs or penalties you should be aware of.
Home Report Cost by Property Price
Property price is one of the main factors that affects the overall cost of a Home Report. Quotes are often given excluding VAT, so it’s important to ask for a full cost breakdown to check whether VAT is included.
Here are the average Home Report costs by property price:
| Property Price | Home Report Cost Excluding VAT (£) | Home Report Cost Including VAT (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £100,000 | £200-£450 | £240-£540 |
| £100,000-£200,000 | £300-£550 | £360-£660 |
| £200,000-£300,000 | £450-£600 | £540-£720 |
| £300,000-£400,000 | £600-£750 | £720-£900 |
| £400,000-£500,000 | £700-£900 | £840-£1,080 |
| £500,000+ | £900-£1,000 | £1,080-£1,200 |
Factors That Affect Home Report Costs
- Higher-value properties often cost more to assess, especially the survey element.
- Larger homes take longer to inspect, which can raise the cost.
- Fees vary by region and may be higher in remote or city areas.
- Experienced or in-demand surveyors may charge more.
- Unique or non-standard homes may require extra time and expertise.
- Longer inspections and report prep can increase the overall fee.
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Additional Costs
A Home Report is typically a one-off cost and should not include any hidden fees or follow-up payments after it's been completed.
Updating an Outdated Report
Although a Home Report doesn’t technically expire, if it’s more than 12 weeks old when an offer is made, the buyer’s lender may request an update to confirm the property's condition and value. This typically costs around £150.
For this reason, it’s best to commission the Home Report when the property is ready to go on the market.
Penalties for Not Providing a Home Report
Failing to provide a Home Report when selling a property can result in a penalty of up to £500.
What Is Included In A Home Report?
A Home Report is a pack of documents that provides key information about a residential property in Scotland. It is designed to give potential buyers a clear understanding of the property’s condition, energy efficiency, and market value before making an offer.
The report is made up of three parts: a Single Survey, an Energy Report, and a Property Questionnaire. Together, these documents help buyers make more informed decisions, reduce the risk of unexpected issues later on, and aim to create a fairer buying and selling process.
Single Survey
A RICS-registered surveyor inspects the property’s interior and exterior, assesses its condition, highlights any defects, and recommends any necessary repairs.
The findings are presented in a detailed report, which includes a colour-coded system to help buyers quickly understand the condition of different elements within the property:
- Green: No repairs are needed
- Amber: Some issues are present, but repairs are not urgent
- Red: Urgent repairs are required due to serious defects
- NI (Not Inspected): The surveyor was unable to inspect this element
The Single Survey also includes a market valuation — an estimate of how much the property is worth.
Energy Report
This includes an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), rating the property’s energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), with recommendations for improvement. A poor rating may affect mortgage eligibility.
Property Questionnaire
Completed by the seller, this aims to give the buyer more information about their future purchase. It includes questions about the property such as:
- Previous alterations or extensions
- Current Council Tax band
- Parking arrangements (e.g. on-street, driveway, allocated space)
- Flood history or local authority notices
- Shared maintenance costs (if applicable)
Learn more: What is the Cost of Selling a House in Scotland?
Next Steps: Find a Surveyor
Compare My Move connects users with the best RICS-regulated surveyors in their area. Fill out our Home Report comparison form to compare up to 6 quotes and save up to 70% on the cost of your home report.
To join our network, all companies must pass our verification process. Surveyors offering Home Reports must be regulated by RICS to ensure they adhere to the best industry standards and provide exceptional customer service.
All data unless otherwise stated is based on the average service cost data for Compare My Move users in addition to our own research. See how our data works.
