The National Association of Estate Agents has called for HIPs to be scrapped. Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, said:
‘Once again a fair and rational examination of Home Information Packs has concluded that the system as it stands is simply not working. Firstly the cost is punishing sellers in the pocket at a time when they really need all the help that they can. More galling, they are spending this money in the knowledge that 77% of buyers admit that they paid no attention to the pack whatsoever.
Currently the law states that all vendors must be in possession of a HIP before they can market their property from April 6 this year – whereas currently vendors can market their property if they have applied for and are awaiting the report.
‘Margaret Beckett herself admitted that HIPs are not working – but now she seems to have buried her head in the sand along with the rest of her department. HIPs are confusing to customers and act as a dampener on a housing market which is essential to Britain’s economic recovery.
With all indicators pointing to a troubled year ahead the NAEA has called on Mrs Beckett to suspend HIPs while the housing market is suffering and re-examine their viability once the market has begun to pick up.
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