A review of Home Information Packs (Hips) is needed given the housing market slowdown, estate agents say.
Local searches are a requirement in the packs, but the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) says they are out of date by the time a property is sold.
It wants a simpler pack, but the government says that the system is bringing benefits to consumers.
The packs - which are compulsory in England and Wales - are aimed at preventing sales falling through. Read Full Story
It seems that there are a few people out there who are not very happy with IDEA (The Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors) and it sounds like they have good reason. I would recommed heading over to Neil Kruz's blog to find out a bit more about this self-styled institute for DEAs (Domestic Energy Assessors).
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As well as subscribing to this blog there is a wealth of HIP infomration on the Web.
It is probably fair to say that the governement funded news resources such as www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk are best for accurate and up-to-date information about Home Information Packs and there is also a Governement funded newsletter that you can subscribe to and get the latest information on HIPs direct to your inbox.
If you want to get an idea about what is being said in the press about HIPs you can... Read Full Story
From today, all new build properties must have a HIP before marketing can commence. Previous regulations, exempting properties built to 2006 Building Regulations, have been superseded meaning a HIP must be ordered and paid for on any new build or off-plan development marketed for sale.
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Abc-hips.co.uk are informing developers and estate agents they can face fines of £200 per day per property should they be found to not adhere to the HIP... Read Full Story
They may have launched to a barrage of criticism last August but home information packs are here to stay. And while vendors trying to sell their house this spring may have deeper concerns than compiling a report on their property – not least a lack of buyers – it will still be on their "to do" list because all homeowners in England and Wales now need to apply for a HIP before the "for sale" sign can go up. So what do they need to know?
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The Consumer Association, Which? claims that there are few signs that Home Information Packs (HIPs) have achieved the aim of improving the process of buying or selling a property as a large part of a HIP is out of date after four to six months; buyers and sellers have problems getting hold of a pack and HIP inspectors often fail to carry out basic checks.
However, this infomration is based on a very small sample size of just 23 estate agents which raises questions about the reliability and... Read Full Story
According to research carried out by Mori home buyers are satisfied with the Home Information Pack (HIP) and are starting to use energy performance certificates to make their properties greener.
(more…) Read Full Story
Some people still do not realise that from December last year all properties for sale in England and Wales need a Home Information Pack (HIP).
It is also worth pointing out that the the introduction of home info packs is only part of the broader initiative to reform home buying and selling in England and Wales. Other initiatives include e-conveyancing which aims to speed up the process and provide better value for money. Read Full Story
