A pilot scheme, testing single surveys commissioned by a property seller and made available to potential buyers with the cost being passed on to the successful bidder, is to be launched in Scotland by the end of 2003. The problem of multiple surveys affects one third of house purchasers in Scotland where 70% of all housing is now privately owned, and 27% of recent buyers have faced unexpected repair costs associated with this. This proposal by the Scottish Executive is in response to the final report of its Housing Improvement Task Force (HITF), which has made over 150 housing-related recommendations that are likely to inform government policy. The report "Stewardship and responsibility: a policy framework for private housing in Scotland" is available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/housing/pfph-00.asp http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2003/03/SESJ207.aspx