Surveyors are ‘flouting rules’ on home reports
PROPERTY surveyors are flouting lockdown restriction on home reports to get properties on the market, industry insiders have claimed.
According to the current Scottish Government restrictions, home inspections should not be carried out because of social distancing risks and this is not expected to be relaxed until phase two of the route map is launched on June 18.
A number of firms are said to have been carrying out inspections of empty properties since April.
Government officials then issued guidance to estate agents earlier this week saying inspections could be carried out if a house move was “reasonably necessary” which has led to more properties being advertised.
Chartered surveyors say the confusion and lack of clarity has penalised firms which have remained closed for business.
In response to our inquiry, the Housing Minister Kevin Stewart confirmed that surveyors could “support a house move if it was reasonably necessary” but did not provide any further clarification on what this means.
One chartered surveyor said: “This is a sensitive subject among members of the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors at the minute and is of a major concern to firms like ourselves who have remained closed and as a result are losing vital business revenue at this difficult time.
“The housing market is key to the economy but it’s got to be a level playing field.”
Lindsey Archibald, an independent estate agent, said she was aware of surveyors who had been “flouting rules” but is waiting for the green light from the Scottish Government and is optimistic about the industry’s recovery.
She said: “Scotland’s agents are going to see the boom that England saw restrictions are lifted.
“I’ve received dozens of requests for people to help find them homes too and over the last weeks there has been a massive surge in inquiries about homes for post lockdown.”
Mr Stewart said: “Surveyors can continue to support reasonably necessary home moves in the residential property market if they can do so in a way which is fully consistent with health and physical distancing advice.”
He said that in all other cases, people should delay plans to move. estate initial when