Responding to today’s publication of the Office of Fair Trading Market Study report on Home Buying and Selling, Sarah O’Neill, Consumer Focus Scotland’s Head of Policy, said:
“This report confirms that people in Scotland are generally more satisfied with the process of buying and selling a home than buyers and sellers in other parts of Britain. It highlights that the Scottish system provides greater certainty for both buyers and sellers, with a generally faster process, less chance of being gazumped and fewer problems arising because of chains.
“The findings mirror previous Consumer Focus Scotland research that identified higher customer satisfaction levels with house purchase services in Scotland and fewer complaints about these services than elsewhere in the UK. However, while the report is generally very positive about the Scottish system, finding no serious concerns about competition and consumer choice in purchasing estate agency services, it does suggest that there is still scope to extend choice and improve the experience for Scottish consumers.
“We believe that the Home Report, introduced in December 2008, will help to further improve the Scottish system. The benefits that they provide for buyers are clear – detailed information, compiled by an expert, on the value, condition and energy efficiency of the property. Sellers also gain from buyers’ confidence that what they are getting is up to scratch. These factors should help to sustain future confidence of both buyers and sellers in the Scottish process.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. Consumer Focus Scotland has published two consumer guides to the Scottish property market – Moving Home in Scotland: A Guide to Buying and Selling Your Home and Buying and Selling a Home in Scotland. Both can be ordered from our website www.consumerfocus.org.uk/scotland/publications/consumer-guides
2. In December 2009 Consumer Focus Scotland published a research briefing on Consumers and the Estate Agent/House-Purchase Market in Scotland. The research surveyed 500 consumers in Scotland who had recent experience of using these services. The briefing can be downloaded here
3. The Scottish Consumer Council (one of Consumer Focus Scotland’s predecessor organisations) published the Home Truths report, examining the consumer experience of buying and selling a home in Scotland, in August 2000. A copy of this report is available here
4. Consumer Focus Scotland is rooted in over 30 years of work promoting the interests of consumers, particularly those who experience disadvantage in society. We work for consumers in aspects of their lives: as council tenants, householders, patients, parents, solicitors’ clients, public transport users, bank depositors and borrowers, postal service users and as shoppers.
Media Contact
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Ryan Norton, Communications Manager on 0141 227 1852.