Home information pack regulations confirm worst fears, says NAEA

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is dismayed to see the government pressing ahead with plans for home information packs (HIPs) despite the very real and obvious flaws, which continue to be highlighted by many stakeholders.

The department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) released the final HIPs regulations, just two months before HIPs are due to come into effect on 1st June 2007.

NAEA Chief Executive Peter Bolton King comments: “The final regulations include a few minor adjustments to the previous home information pack proposals, but it has got to the stage now where this is just a case of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. What the government does not seem to grasp is that these small changes are not going to achieve its desire to improve the process, when the proposals have so many fundamental flaws.

“The regulations released yesterday confirm our worst fears: that the government is intent on pressing ahead with a piece of legislation that is more likely to be a hindrance rather than any kind of help.

“Time and time again we have called on the government to review this ill-conceived initiative. While we wholly support the improvement of the buying and selling process, however, we do not believe home information packs are the way to do this. If the government would only agree to go back to the drawing board we would be more than happy to help put together a proposal that would make a real and positive difference to the consumer.”