RESIDENTIALsales
HIPs – thorn in the side?
This April, the temporary measures introduced to ease the
establishment of HIPs were removed. Danielle Simpson
talks to some of country’s leading property professionals to
find out how the new requirements are affecting the industry.
ince their introduction, HIPs would streamline matters in a green way. I
S
have been a thorn in the side of suspect a minority of agents are flaunting
the property business, but estate the law on HIPs but as there is little
agents are learning to live with policing it’s hard to know. The Agent is the
them. On 6 April this year, three responsible person, so the risks to the seller
significant changes were are minimal, other than the fact they may
introduced which brought them right to have to find another agent if the ‘law
the top of the agenda for agents: breaker’ agent is barred from practising or
cannot pay the fines if caught.
•
the suspension of fi rst day marketing So are HIPS useful? Few buyers appear
– a HIP must be available to buyers as interested in the documentation and a HIP
soon as a property is marketed; would only be better read if it provided a
•
the inclusion of a Property survey, though this brings understandable
Information Questionnaire – to be resistance from sellers and agents.
completed by the seller and made The Local Authority search systems
available before the property is require investment and that might be
marketed; and Peter Rollings, harder to find in these recessionary times.
•
the completion of local authority MANAGING DIRECTOR
searches, bringing an end to the use of
MARSH AND PARSONS
incomplete personal searches. “As EPCs are the only thing required under Few buyers
EEC law, I would expect the next
It’s not surprising, given the time and government to scrap HIPs but keep the appear
financial implications of these changes, EPC. I don’t believe they add any value to
that many industry experts are still calling the process that can’t be added by interested in the
for the home grown elements of HIPs to be employing a good ‘on-the-ball’ solicitor
scrapped. But others, it seems, are from day one.” documentation
warming to the idea – so long as value is
added, EPCs are addressed and the and a HIP would
Government concedes to finally take Miles
advice from the industry.
Shipside
only be better read
Of course the majority of agents are only
RIGHTMOVE
too aware that the new regulations are if it provided a
being flaunted, putting compliant agents at “The introduction
a disadvantage, but as the Government so of first day survey, though
badly ‘crashed’ the HIPs train when it came marketing has
on board, HIPs-positive agents are seizing created this brings
the opportunity to take matters firmly in paperwork and
hand by adding their own value to the HIPs some delays to understandable
process and ensuring consumers are better marketing where agents or HIP suppliers
informed about the benefits of HIPs. systems have been found wanting. resistance from
Many, but not all, recognise that there However as HIPs were required before
isn’t much point in fighting any more, not April 6th some [agents] are not noticing a sellers and agents.’
until a new government is in power, at major change.
least, and that the best way to handle HIPs If the government split the EPC from the MILES SHIPSIDE, RIGHTMOVE
is to comply and use them as a sales aid. HIP and made that part mandatory it
44 JULY-AUGUST 2009 PROPERTYdrum
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