Page 13 - International Buyers Guide
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Eyemouth
Moving and practical costs
Removals, storage, cleaning, mail redirection,
temporary accommodation and time off work
Additional Dwelling Supplement can all add up. You may also need to pay
deposits or advance payments for services such
(ADS)
as broadband, utilities or insurance before the
If you already own another residential property, move is complete.
the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) is an
additional tax charged on top of LBTT. This is
particularly relevant for second homes, buy-to- Household costs
let properties, or where a new main residence
These may include council tax, utilities, buildings
is purchased before the existing one has sold. and contents insurance, broadband, service
Where ADS applies it can create a substantial
charges or factoring fees, maintenance and
upfront cost, so talk to your solicitor before
general repairs. A larger or older property
confirming a purchase. As of 2026, the current
may have higher running costs, so it is worth
rate of ADS is 8% of the property price. estimating these before deciding whether
the move is affordable in the longer term.
Legal fees You can ask a seller about these costs at a
viewing or they may be outlined in the property
In Scotland, you are legally required to use a questionnaire within the Home Report.
solicitor to purchase a property. They submit
the offer, negotiate and conclude the missives,
carry out conveyancing checks, transfer funds Repairs, decoration and
and register the property title. In addition to the improvements
solicitor’s professional fee, there may be outlays
such as registration dues, searches and bank If the property needs decoration or maintenance
— a new kitchen, replacement flooring, repairs or
transfer fees. Fees and outlays vary, so request
energy-efficiency upgrades — build these costs
a full written estimate from your solicitor at the
into your overall budget rather than treating
start of the process.
them as an afterthought.
Mortgage and finance costs The safest approach is to prepare a full moving
If the purchase is funded with a mortgage, also budget that separates one-off purchase costs
consider arrangement fees, valuation fees, from recurring monthly costs. This helps avoid
mortgage adviser fees and any early repayment unexpected pressure on savings and makes it
charges on an existing mortgage. easier to plan ahead.
Buying in Scotland | 13
