Author Archives: Alison Gourley
A Loan for Self-Build Homes is Now Available
The Scottish Government have announced a new loan available for people who want to build their own homes. After a successful pilot scheme run in the Highlands, the £4million fund is now open for applications from eligible city or rural … More
The Letting Agent Code of Practice (Scotland) Regulations 2016
From the 31 January 2018 anyone undertaking residential letting agency work in Scotland must ensure that their service delivery is compliant with The Letting Agent Code of Practice (Scotland) Regulations 2016. The Code sets out the standards of practice which … More
“Caveat Emptor” – What Does That Mean?
“Caveat emptor” is an ancient Roman law basically meaning “let the buyer be aware”. One of the areas where this rule applies is in relation to the purchase of a house. Let me differentiate between new houses and old houses. … More
Slowest Growth in the UK Housing Market in Five Years
UK house price growth in June slowed to its lowest since August 2013. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this slowdown was mainly affected by the falling prices in London where properties dropped from 0.7% to negative 0.2%.The … More
New Register for Community Body Applications
The Registers of Scotland (RoS) has introduced a new register, The Register of Applications by Community Bodies to buy Land, which will record all applications by community bodies to buy land or property that is abandoned, neglected or causing harm … More
The Number of Rental Properties Available in Scotland Continues to Fall
A new survey of the residential property market has revealed that the number of rental properties in Scotland has fallen even further over the last three months. Coupled with this decrease in supply is an increase in demand which is … More
Scotland Offers Affordable Seaside Living
Many of us would like to live by the sea and new research by Bank of Scotland has revealed that it may not be as unaffordable as some might think. The research found that average property prices by the sea … More
Many ‘ Empty Nesters’ Choose Not to Downsize
New research from the Bank of Scotland has revealed that about 43% of adults whose children have ‘flown the nest’ intend to remain in the family home rather than downsizing. Although most are enjoying the extra space and freedom, 25% … More
On-line Estate Agents vs Traditional Estate Agents
Over the past few years there has been an explosion in online estate agents who charge a flat fee rather than commission. Certainly digital technology, smart phones, apps and the Internet have transformed the way people market their property or … More
Be Proactive on Voluntary Registration
I have just been examining a big bundle of titles which were all dusty, making me sneeze, and some were barely legible. These titles relate to a property which has not yet been registered in the Land Register of Scotland … More