In March 2005 the Minister for Communities, Malcolm Chisholm, announced that the intention to evaluate the Single Survey Pilot, with a view to introducing a mandatory single survey scheme.

In the meantime the Single Survey product continued to remain available for anyone who wished to use it.  However, in the light of the forthcoming evaluation of the Pilot, the Single Survey Steering Group agreed that the Single Survey product should be withdrawn from the market for review and refinement ahead of the launch of the mandatory scheme. Any properties currently being marketed with the Single Survey can of course continue to carry the product until completion of sale.

In the coming months the Scottish Executive will work to develop the product with key stakeholders, including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Scottish Consumers Council, the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Law Society of Scotland.  This group will provide advice regarding the details of the final survey product and how it should be operated.