HIP Reform Group Formed

The Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, repeated statements to abolish the Home Information Pack has left the HIP industry’s future in doubt. It has also planted a time bomb that could ignite early in the New Year bringing with it misery for estate agents, other property professionals and the home seller and buyer.

If the Conservative Party should gain power at the next general election, Mr Shapps has made it increasingly clear that his first task will be to scrap the current HIP. With the HIP’s future uncertain and Mr Shapps refusing to commit to what will replace it, many vendors will at the beginning of next year facing a dilemma as to of whether to sell or wait until after the election before going to market. It does not take an economist to predict what the likely affect this will have on what is already a very fragile market.

Not only a concern for the consumer, this should also set off alarm bells with estate agents and other property professionals as what will this mean for those looking to formulate and agree business plans for the first 2 quarters of next year.

Added to this is the personal tragedy this will bring to the 30,000 plus working within the HIP industry. At a time when unemployment is high the overnight closure of a major industry must be a concern for any Government.

This does not only concern HIP providers. Home Inspectors and DEA’s who are so crucial to the current HIP, and in helping to reduce carbon emissions, could also find themselves surplus to requirement. These are people who have invested personally and financially in finding a role within an industry that the Government itself encouraged.

In recognition of this strength of feeling, and wishing to see reform brought in on the back of the HIP, a new group of likeminded people has been formed under the title of the ‘HIP Reform Group’. The aim of this group is to ensure the consumer is given a full and not a partial picture of the benefits of the HIP, as well as advocating reform to what is recognised by many as an antiquated home selling and buying process. Those wishing to lend their support can sign up at www.hipreformgroup.com