Buying a House in ScotlandA Clear Guide

Part one covers how Scotland is different, the journey step by step, and money first: deposits, mortgages and affordability, the true cost of buying, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax with 2026–27 bands, first-time buyer relief and the Additional Dwelling Supplement, worked examples at £150k, £250k and £400k, and the help schemes open in 2026, such as the First Homes Fund and LIFT.

Part two walks through finding a home, the Home Report, viewing, noting interest, offers over and closing dates, the formal offer and missives, the date of entry and settlement, and title and the Registers of Scotland.

Part three is about the checks that protect you: damp, roofs and RAAC, flood risk and Fife mining reports, tenements and factors, listed buildings and knotweed, EPC ratings, checking sellers, builders and agents, new builds, auctions and property scams, plus a moving-day checklist and Fife council tax bands. Part four is a toolkit: buying with someone else, selling and buying at once, questions for your solicitor and a budget worksheet. A new chapter, “Thinking of letting it out?”, sets out the options if you might let the home later and points to our guide, Letting Your Property in Scotland.

Figures come from official sources, checked in October 2026. Education only, not legal or financial advice.

• How buying in Scotland is different
• The true cost of buying and LBTT
• Worked examples and 2026 help schemes
• The Home Report and noting interest
• Offers over, closing dates and missives
• Date of entry, settlement and title
• Damp, RAAC, flood risk and Fife mining checks
• Tenements, factors and new builds
• Auctions and property scams
• Council tax bands in Fife
• Questions for your solicitor and a budget worksheet
• Thinking of letting it out?