The Law Society has responded to David Borrowman's call for Home Reports to become voluntary by calling on the Scottish Government to abandon the reports, suspend them, or remove the compulsory survey element.

The backing of the Law Society to what has so far been an ad-hoc campaign of resistance to the new regime, may lead to a wider review of the reports, introduced on December 1st.

Borrowman had earlier written to every MSP in Scotland to explain in detail how the introduction of the reports had adversely impacted the market from the day of their inception.

Today, Ross MacKay, a member of the Law Society's Conveyancing Committee, told The Firm exclusively that the Society has consistently backed proposals for property buyers to have more and better information about their prospective purchases but voiced strong concerns about the inclusion of a compulsory single survey in Home Report packs.

"Now that Home Reports are a reality, we think the best way forward is to ensure that the new system is properly reviewed, and that the review can distinguish the effects from the recession from the effects of introducing the Home Report as far as possible. We are currently pressing the Government to widen the scope of its interim review, which is intended to consider minor changes to the regulations, to include the options of suspending or abandoning Home Reports or at least the compulsory single survey," said Mackay.

"Practitioners are working to ensure they protect the interests of clients, whether buying or selling, in these difficult times.

He also said that the Law Society was taking steps to ask conveyancing solicitors for feedback on their experience of Home Reports, and in particular if they are "a useful marketing tool" or " burdensome, and discouraging sellers' entry to the market."

"The Society's conveyancing committee has also had discussions with the Scottish Law Agents Society and supports their plan to monitor the new system and will be approaching the Solicitor Property Centres for input," Mackay added.

A poll of readers of The Firm website found that 79% of respondents believed Home Reports were not working.