AHIPP is anti anti-HIP

Estate agents who have attack Home Information Packs (HIPs) are seriously misinformed and are in danger of misleading the public they claim to defend – says the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP).

Criticisms flung at HIPs by dissatisfied agents include the claim that the packs will cause a reduction in the number of properties coming onto the market as sellers will be deterred by the cost of providing pack. Mike Ockenden, director general of AHIPP, claims that this is, “arrant nonsense”.

“It is extremely unlikely that any seller will be asked to pay up front for the cost of providing a pack,” he said. “Just as lawyers who undertake conveyancing, HIP providers will subsidise the cost of putting the pack together until the house is sold. Is a sale is aborted because of a death or loss of employment the costs will be covered by insurance schemes.

“To say the introduction of HIPS will put sellers off is frankly balderdash. Sellers traditionally sell for imperative reasons – the need for more (or less) space, because of divorce, death and relocation. These sellers will stand a far better chance of selling their house if they come complete with a pack including a Home Condition Report.

“Buyers will embrace the packs because it will save them the trouble of commissioning their own surveys. The whole process of house sales will be more transparent – and that has to be to the public’s benefit.”

AHIPP also believes that if agents misinform the public now they will be in a very weak position by the time HIPs become a reality and a way of life just as they are in the USA, Denmark and parts of Australia.

“It is most disappointing that some agents – particularly those at the top end in London – are trying to obstruct the introduction of a product that will benefit the home buying and selling public.

“What is amazing is that these agents cannot see that HIPS will not only benefit the consumer but will also provide them the opportunity to reduce their costs and improve their cash flows. They do rather appear to be the Luddites of the property industry!”