Government must review HIPs now says NAEA

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), the residential sales arm of the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP), is calling on the government to help the property market by finally taking action on Home Information Packs (HIPs).

Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the NAEA, comments: "With the economic situation worsening and the property market still suffering, we are calling on the government to take urgent action on HIPs.

"We have long seen HIPs as not fit for purpose and as the wrong answer to simplifying the house buying process. Quite simply, the government tried to force ‘square pegs into round holes' and the slower property market is making this situation worse. For instance, the current call for local searches to be conducted as part of a HIP is madness. Due to the length of time properties are on the market in the current climate, a majority of searches are now out of date by the time the property is sold, which means they have to be repeated at extra cost to the consumer.

"The time has come to rectify the situation and come up with a system that works cohesively and efficiently for both buyers and sellers. If HIPs are going to continue, then we, along with other major stakeholders would like to see them including only information that is of some use. Perhaps a simplified pack could include; a sellers' questionnaire, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) also reviewed to be fit for purpose, and the Land Registry title and plan. This is the only information that is helpful for consumers and the industry as a whole.

"Indeed it is not only the Association that is taking this stance on the matter, Sir Bryan Carsberg's recommendations in the recent ‘Carsberg Review of Residential Property' endorses the Association's strong standpoint on HIPs, together with many other stakeholders in the industry.

"In times of economic hardship, let's stop this ridiculous repeating of information and shameful waste of consumers' money!"