Buying In Scotland

Scotland has it own system of law, and buying and selling a property is quite a different process from the one in the rest of the UK. The system generally works more quickly and there is less risk of gazumping.

The general process runs as follows:

• Apply for a mortgage
• Engage a solicitor or conveyancer (mandatory in Scotland)
• Find a property you wish to buy
• Ask your solicitor to 'note interest'
• Complete a mortgage application
• Get a valuation or survey
• Have the mortgage application agreed
• Make an offer on the property
• Complete the mortgage application
• Offer is accepted
• Fix a settlement date
• Arrange buildings insurance
• Solicitors complete missives (contracts)
• Settlement (completion)

In the rest of this section, we take a look at these procedures in more detail.