Housing policy can be directly linked to economic growth. We have developed a range of schemes to help first-time buyers buy their first property, and help existing homeowners move home.

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Warning

The LIFT Open Market Shared Equity Scheme has now closed for 2023/24 as the budget has been fully utilised. The scheme will not be taking any new applications until a decision has been made on budgets for 2024/25.

We are:

Background

Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) shared equity schemes help first-time buyers on low to moderate incomes to buy a home. There are two main shared equity schemes:

 

The  Help to Buy (Scotland) schemes and the First Home Fund shared equity scheme are now closed and will not be reopening.

An evaluation of the Scottish Government's shared equity schemes has been published.

Privacy notice relating to Scottish Government shared equity schemes.

Bills and legislation

The following legislation relates to the Home Report:

  • Part 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 gives Ministers power to set regulations about the documents that need to be made available when a property is marketed for sale in Scotland.
  • the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Prescribed Documents) Regulations 2008 sets out the documents sellers must give to potential buyers: the Single Survey, an Energy Report and a Property Questionnaire, which together form the Home Report. It also states the penalty for not doing so.
  • the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2008. For the single survey to work, buyers must be able to rely on it. If buyers suffer a material loss due to a mistake in the Home Report, the surveyor will be liable to pay them damages. Sellers can also hold surveyors responsible for any problems with the survey.

Contact

Email: HousingMarkets@gov.scot

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