News releases - Housing

2007

SCC delight as single survey gets Scottish Government green light

31/10/07

New build buyers need new rights - 28/8/07

Scots will benefit from the new single survey
24KB March 2007

2006

Consumer watchdog welcomes regulation of estate agents - 15/11/06
The Scottish Consumer Council has welcomed the announcement in today’s Queen’s speech that a new bill will ensure greater regulation of estate agents throughout the UK, including Scotland. At present, while many estate agents are members of the National Association of Estate Agents or the Ombudsman for Estate Agents, which have codes of practice and complaints procedures, membership of both of these schemes is voluntary. The Bill will mean that in future all estate agents will be required to become members of an ombudsman scheme.

Law Society U-turn on single survey

13/11/06
The Scottish Consumer Council (SCC) today expressed surprise at the apparent u-turn by the Law Society of Scotland on the matter of the single survey.

SCC response to review on performance standards - consultation on proposed changes

SCC response to the proposed changes to the performance standards for social landlords and homelessness functions

30/08/06

2005

Lack of protection highlighted for Scots buying new built houses

People who make their biggest ever purchase buying a new built house may find they have less consumer protection than when they shop for a loaf of bread.  This situation is criticised today by the Scottish Consumer Council in a report which outlines a series of changes designed to give greater protection to Scots who buy new houses.

101KB 22 March 2005

Construction industry puts its house in order

The Scottish Consumer Council has welcomed today´s announcement of the creation of a licensing system for the construction industry that will help protect people from “cowboy builders”.

85KB 24 January 2005

SCC Response to RIBS survey on stamp duty

Quote from Graeme Millar, SCC Chairman, calling for increases to the threshold for stamp duty.

76KB January 2005

2004

Public should be given right to appeal against planning decisions, says SCC

The Scottish Consumer Council is backing proposed new legislation that would give the public the right of appeal against planning applications that have been approved.
31KB  January 2004

2003

Action needed to help strengthen the voice of tenants in Scotland

Better support is needed for tenants´ organisations in Scotland to help them become more effective in representing their members.
    31KB  March 2003

2001

Consumer Council calls for changes to improve house buying process in Scotland

Better information needs to be given to house buyers in Scotland together with clear timescales of how long the process of buying a new home will take, says the Scottish Consumer Council.
 36KB  October 2001

2000

Extra measures needed to improve housing in
Scotland

The Scottish Consumer Council has submitted a formal response to the Scottish Executive´s proposals for the forthcoming Housing Bill. The SCC has welcomed many aspects of the proposals. However, it has identified a series of gaps which require to be addressed if the country´s housing needs are to be met.
36KB  3 October 2000

Mortgage Endowment Mis-selling

Comment to FSA on its intention to conduct formal investigations into mis-selling of mortgage endowments.

29KB  3 October 2000

Major report on house buying in Scotland calls for changes in survey system

One of the most criticised aspects of house buying in Scotland - the risk of paying for several surveys before securing a property - could be solved by an independent survey scheme, says a major report today from the Scottish Consumer Council.

41KB  17 September 2000

1999

SCC Exposes raw deal for home owners by councils

The Scottish Consumer Council today published In a Fix, a report about the experiences of home owners in Scotland who share common property with their council. The results showed serious problems for home owners, caused by a combination of unfairness in legal contracts (which can be challenged in the courts) and poor practice by local authorities.
42KB  12 July 1999

The Scottish Consumer Council calls for a statutory duty to consult all service users

The SCC is calling on the Scottish Executive to introduce a statutory duty to consult tenants, in response to the Partners in Participation consultation.
48KB  17 February 1999