Scottish Property Terms Glossary

Saltire Systems includes a comprehensive glossary of 32 Scottish property and lettings terms built into the platform. Understanding Scottish property terminology is essential for estate agents operating in Scotland, from missives and qualified acceptances to closing dates, Home Reports, and LBTT.

Bridging Loan

A short-term loan used to bridge the gap between buying a new property and selling an existing one. Bridging loans allow buyers to proceed with a purchase before their current property has sold, though they carry higher interest rates than standard mortgages. They are particularly common in Scotland where the date of entry on a new property may not align with the sale of the buyer's existing home.

Burgh

A Scottish chartered town, historically with certain trading rights and a degree of self-governance. While the burgh system was abolished in 1975, the term remains relevant in property addresses and title deeds. Many Scottish properties still reference their burgh in legal descriptions, and some Common Good properties are tied to the historical burgh boundaries.

Closing Date

A deadline set by the seller's solicitor by which all interested buyers must submit sealed bids. Closing dates are common in competitive Offers Over situations where multiple parties have registered notes of interest. All offers are opened after the deadline, and the seller chooses which to accept, not necessarily the highest. Saltire Systems tracks closing dates across all active listings and ensures no deadline is missed.

Common Good

Property owned by a local authority for the benefit of the community, originating from the old burgh system. Common Good land may affect titles in older Scottish towns, as certain rights or restrictions can be tied to these historical assets. Buyers should check whether any Common Good interests affect a property before purchase.

Conclusion of Missives

The point at which the exchange of formal letters between the buyer's and seller's solicitors becomes legally binding. This is the Scottish equivalent of "exchange of contracts" in England, but achieved through the missives process rather than a single exchange. Once missives are concluded, neither party can withdraw without facing a claim for breach of contract. Saltire Systems tracks all 11 milestones of the missives process automatically, from qualified acceptance through to conclusion.

Deposit Protection

A legal requirement in Scotland that tenancy deposits must be lodged with an approved deposit protection scheme within 30 working days of the tenancy starting. There are three approved schemes in Scotland: SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Service Scotland, and mydeposits Scotland. Failure to protect a deposit can result in the landlord being ordered to pay the tenant up to three times the deposit amount. Saltire Systems tracks the 30-working-day deadline and alerts agents before deposits become overdue.

Date of Entry

The agreed date when the buyer takes legal ownership of the property and receives the keys. The date of entry is negotiable between the parties and is typically set during the missives process. It is the Scottish equivalent of "completion" in England. Saltire Systems monitors date of entry across all transactions and proactively chases solicitors as the date approaches.

EICR

Electrical Installation Condition Report. A safety inspection of the fixed electrical wiring and installations in a rental property. In Scotland, landlords must have a satisfactory EICR in place, with inspections required at least every 5 years. An unsatisfactory report must be remedied before re-letting. Saltire Systems tracks EICR expiry dates across all tenancies and alerts agents 60 days before an inspection is due.

ESPC

Edinburgh Solicitors' Property Centre. A consortium of Edinburgh-area solicitors that jointly markets properties and provides valuation data, market reports, and property search services. ESPC is one of the main property marketing channels in the Edinburgh and Lothians area, alongside the national portals. The ESPC model, where solicitors both market and convey, is distinctly Scottish.

Fixed Price

A pricing strategy where the asking price is the price the seller expects to receive. Unlike Offers Over, the first acceptable offer at or above the fixed price is typically accepted. Fixed Price is more common in slower markets or for properties where the seller wants a quick, straightforward sale. Saltire Systems supports both Fixed Price and Offers Over strategies, with AI-powered offer analysis tailored to each.

Gas Safety Certificate

An annual gas safety check required by law for all rental properties with gas installations in Scotland. A Gas Safe registered engineer must inspect all gas appliances, flues, and pipework, issuing a Landlord Gas Safety Record (CP12). The check must be completed within 12 months of the previous inspection, and a copy must be provided to the tenant. Saltire Systems monitors gas safety certificate expiry dates and alerts agents 30 days before renewal is due.

GSPC

Glasgow Solicitors' Property Centre. Similar to ESPC but covering the Glasgow and west of Scotland area. GSPC provides property listings, market data, and search services through its member solicitor firms. It is one of the key marketing channels for properties in the greater Glasgow region.

Home Report

A document pack required by law before a property can be marketed for sale in Scotland. The Home Report includes three parts: a Single Survey (condition report and valuation by a chartered surveyor), an Energy Report (energy performance certificate), and a Property Questionnaire (completed by the seller). Home Reports are valid for 12 weeks and must be paid for by the seller. Saltire Systems tracks Home Report validity periods and alerts agents before expiry.

LBTT

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax. Scotland's property purchase tax, which replaced UK Stamp Duty Land Tax in Scotland from April 2015. LBTT operates on a progressive band system with a nil rate up to £145,000 and first-time buyer relief extending the nil rate to £175,000. Rates rise through several bands above these thresholds. Saltire Systems calculates LBTT automatically for every offer analysis, including first-time buyer relief where applicable.

Listing Agreement

A contract between the seller and the estate agent setting out the terms of the agency appointment, including the commission rate, marketing obligations, duration, and termination provisions. Listing agreements in Scotland must comply with the Estate Agents Act 1979, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, and the TPO Scotland Code of Practice. Saltire Systems generates legally compliant listing agreements with digital signing built in.

Missives

The exchange of formal letters between the buyer's and seller's solicitors that form the binding contract of sale in Scotland. The process begins with an offer from the buyer's solicitor and continues through a series of letters (qualified acceptances, amendments) until all terms are agreed. Once concluded, missives are legally binding and neither party can withdraw. This is fundamentally different from the English system, where either party can pull out until exchange of contracts. Saltire Systems tracks all 11 milestones of the missives process automatically, from initial offer through to conclusion and settlement.

Notes of Interest

A formal registration of a buyer's interest in a property, lodged by their solicitor with the selling agent or seller's solicitor. Registering a note of interest ensures the buyer is notified if a closing date is set, giving them the opportunity to submit an offer. Notes of interest do not commit the buyer to making an offer. Saltire Systems logs all notes of interest against each listing and automatically notifies registered parties when a closing date is set.

Offers Around

A pricing strategy indicating the seller expects offers near the asking price, with some flexibility in either direction. Offers Around sits between Offers Over (where bids above are expected) and Fixed Price (where the stated price is the target). It signals willingness to negotiate while setting a clear expectation of value.

Offers Over

A pricing strategy where the asking price is set as a minimum and buyers are expected to offer above this amount. Offers Over often leads to closing dates and competitive sealed bidding, particularly in popular areas or for desirable properties. The seller is not obligated to accept the highest offer. They may consider buyer position, date of entry, and conditions. Saltire Systems provides AI-powered offer analysis that scores every bid on price, buyer position, and terms to help sellers make informed decisions.

PIQ (Property Information Questionnaire)

A digital material information questionnaire covering NTS Parts B and C compliance for Scottish property sales. The PIQ collects detailed information about the property including utilities, boundaries, flooding history, planning applications, rights of way, environmental factors, and building works. Sellers complete the PIQ via a token-authenticated link sent by the agent. Saltire Systems auto-saves each section, tracks completion status, and populates listing attributes for portal syndication.

PRT (Private Residential Tenancy)

The standard tenancy type in Scotland since 1 December 2017, replacing the previous Short Assured Tenancy and Assured Tenancy. PRTs have no fixed end date. They continue indefinitely until the tenant gives notice (28 days) or the landlord uses one of 18 statutory grounds for eviction. PRTs provide greater security of tenure for tenants while allowing landlords to recover possession when legitimate grounds exist. Saltire Systems is fully PRT-compliant, tracking notice periods, eviction grounds, and rent review schedules.

Property Questionnaire

Part of the Home Report, completed by the seller. The Property Questionnaire covers council tax band, parking arrangements, alterations made to the property, any disputes with neighbours, factoring arrangements, and other material information a buyer would reasonably want to know. The seller has a legal obligation to answer honestly, and inaccurate information can lead to claims after sale.

Qualified Acceptance

The seller's solicitor's formal response to a buyer's offer, accepting the offer in principle but amending certain terms. Common amendments include the date of entry, treatment of fixtures and fittings, and conditions relating to the title or property condition. A qualified acceptance keeps the negotiation open. The missives are not concluded until all terms are agreed by both parties. Saltire Systems tracks qualified acceptances as part of its 11-milestone missives workflow.

Registers of Scotland

The government agency responsible for land and property registration in Scotland. All property transfers must be registered with the Registers of Scotland, which maintains the Land Register (the modern, map-based register) and the Register of Sasines (the historical deeds-based register). Registration provides the legal guarantee of ownership.

Sasine

The historical Scottish land register, formally known as the Register of Sasines. Dating back to 1617, it is one of the oldest land registers in the world. The Register of Sasines is being phased out in favour of the Land Register, which uses a map-based system and provides a state-backed guarantee of title. Properties still on the Sasine register are transferred to the Land Register when they are next sold.

Single Survey

Part of the Home Report, carried out by a chartered surveyor. The Single Survey provides a condition report grading each element of the property on a scale of 1 (good) to 3 (urgent repair needed), along with a market valuation and an accessibility audit. The single survey system was introduced to avoid the duplication of multiple surveys by different buyers, saving cost and time in the transaction process.

Sole Agency

An agreement where only one estate agent is appointed to sell the property for a specified period. Sole agency is the most common appointment type in Scotland. Under a sole agency agreement, the appointed agent earns commission if the property sells during the agreement period, regardless of who introduces the buyer, though the seller may sell privately without liability in some agreements. The terms must be clearly set out in the listing agreement.

Solicitor Estate Agent

A solicitor who also acts as an estate agent, a model that is distinctly common in Scotland. Solicitor estate agents handle both the property marketing and the legal conveyancing, offering a one-stop service for sellers. This dual role is a feature of the Scottish property market and is closely linked to the solicitor property centres (ESPC, GSPC, TSPC).

Title Deeds

Legal documents proving ownership of a property and setting out any conditions, burdens, or servitudes affecting it. In Scotland, title deeds are held by the Registers of Scotland. The title sheet (for properties on the Land Register) or bundle of deeds (for properties still on the Sasine register) contains the legal description, ownership history, and any restrictions on use.

TPO Scotland

The Property Ombudsman Scotland. The independent dispute resolution service for complaints against estate agents and letting agents operating in Scotland. Estate agents must be registered with an approved redress scheme, and TPO Scotland provides a free, impartial service for consumers. Compliance with the TPO Code of Practice is a requirement for all member agents. Saltire Systems generates listing agreements that comply with TPO Scotland requirements.

TSPC

Tayside Solicitors' Property Centre. Similar to ESPC and GSPC but covering the Tayside area, including Dundee, Perth, and Angus. TSPC provides property listings and market data through its network of member solicitor firms in the region.

Upset Price

Another term sometimes used for an Offers Over asking price, particularly in auction contexts. The upset price is the minimum price at which bids will be accepted. While less commonly used in standard estate agency marketing, the term appears in auction sales and some formal property disposals in Scotland.

Works Order

A formal instruction to a contractor to carry out maintenance or repair work on a rental property. Works orders are created after a maintenance request has been triaged (assessed for category, urgency, and required trade), and they track the full lifecycle from dispatch through landlord approval to completion and invoicing. Saltire Systems uses AI to triage maintenance requests and automatically generates works orders with the appropriate contractor assignment.

Saltire Systems is built from the ground up for Scottish property law. Request access to see how it can power your agency.