It is so easy for the anti-HIP lobbyists to argue that the HIP should go simply because nobody 'so it is claimed' wants it! The problem with this statement however, is that although it has an element of truth it really does not, as with most ‘spin’, truly reflect the view of the consumer. Perhaps a truer and fairer pronouncement would be – ‘The HIP should go as nobody really understands its purpose and benefits’.
The problem that exists and which is not helping the proponents of the home information pack is that there is a total lack of education surrounding not only the objective of this pack of legal documents, but the home selling and buying process.
For so long now, a home seller and buyer have had little involvement in the process other than furnishing information, signing papers when requested and making payment to the Conveyancer once the transaction is at an end. This is partly down to some Conveyancers not taking the time to explain the process ( the ‘smoke and mirrors’ approach), as well as the home seller and buyer having little interest in the legal process other than wanting to move into their new home as quickly as possible. This is hardly surprising. The legal process is not the most exciting of processes and at the end of the day this is the very reason a Conveyancer is employed in the very first place.
The problem that exists and which is not helping the proponents of the home information pack is that there is a total lack of education surrounding not only the objective of this pack of legal documents, but the home selling and buying process.
For so long now, a home seller and buyer have had little involvement in the process other than furnishing information, signing papers when requested and making payment to the Conveyancer once the transaction is at an end. This is partly down to some Conveyancers not taking the time to explain the process ( the ‘smoke and mirrors’ approach), as well as the home seller and buyer having little interest in the legal process other than wanting to move into their new home as quickly as possible. This is hardly surprising. The legal process is not the most exciting of processes and at the end of the day this is the very reason a Conveyancer is employed in the very first place.
So why is it that so much is made of the fact that a consumer responds in a negative way when asked about the Home Information Pack? Probably a consumer who has yet to be involved in the selling process and te majority of which probably have no knowledge of the HIP other than what they have read in the Daily Mail or Daily Telegraph. Their view is therefore influenced by the ant-HIP propaganda that as we know is often misleading in the extreme.
So why is there such a lack of education? One reason is that the HIP was launched in such as shambolic way that it hardly had the best of starts and public perception of its worth has failed ever since to recover. However the true reason is the lack of time given by the seller or the facilitator to explain the purpose of the HIP and to outline the benefits. Some estate agents see the HIP as means to an end rather than as a product that if sold correctly can be used as a basis of securing loyal and long term customer.
My experience which is widely reflected within industry is that when time is taken to explain to the seller why a HIP is required, and what will be achieved by it, that the initial scepticism fades and support for the product emerges. Most sellers for example do not know that the majority of documents within the HIP are documents that they would need and have to pay for even if the HIP was abolished. Nor do they know that by front loading the legal side of the sale the time it takes to proceed to exchange is shortened. The addition of the Property Information Questionnaire to the HIP has also made sellers become more involved in the process and has helped them understand a lot more about selling and buying.
The same applies to the criticism surrounding the energy performance certificate. Some argue that nobody looks at the EPC and are not interested in the recommendations etc. I received an email recently from an energy assessor who undertakes work for the USA military bases. He wrote:
‘I operate in the Thetford/ Mildenhall area where we have lots of military housing, the most ridiculous thing is the US personnel know more about the EPC than UK consumers because the military have seen fit to brief new entrants and take the time to explain what the EPC does and how it will affect the individual.’
Grant Shapps is therefore disingenuous when he refers to a lack of interest in the HIP. In making such a comment he is ignoring the fact there was to begin with (well before the HIP was introduced) little consumer interest in the legal process of home selling and buying, and moreover the fact in making the statement he is not taking into account the widespread lack of education as regard the purpose and objective of the HIP.
Rather than continuing to provide the electorate with only half of the story he and his Party should be looking a ways of making the whole process more transparent, quicker and less expensive. Bring on the compulsory ‘ready to exchange’ pack!
My experience which is widely reflected within industry is that when time is taken to explain to the seller why a HIP is required, and what will be achieved by it, that the initial scepticism fades and support for the product emerges. Most sellers for example do not know that the majority of documents within the HIP are documents that they would need and have to pay for even if the HIP was abolished. Nor do they know that by front loading the legal side of the sale the time it takes to proceed to exchange is shortened. The addition of the Property Information Questionnaire to the HIP has also made sellers become more involved in the process and has helped them understand a lot more about selling and buying.
The same applies to the criticism surrounding the energy performance certificate. Some argue that nobody looks at the EPC and are not interested in the recommendations etc. I received an email recently from an energy assessor who undertakes work for the USA military bases. He wrote:
‘I operate in the Thetford/ Mildenhall area where we have lots of military housing, the most ridiculous thing is the US personnel know more about the EPC than UK consumers because the military have seen fit to brief new entrants and take the time to explain what the EPC does and how it will affect the individual.’
Grant Shapps is therefore disingenuous when he refers to a lack of interest in the HIP. In making such a comment he is ignoring the fact there was to begin with (well before the HIP was introduced) little consumer interest in the legal process of home selling and buying, and moreover the fact in making the statement he is not taking into account the widespread lack of education as regard the purpose and objective of the HIP.
Rather than continuing to provide the electorate with only half of the story he and his Party should be looking a ways of making the whole process more transparent, quicker and less expensive. Bring on the compulsory ‘ready to exchange’ pack!
To support us in our campaign, please visit us at www.hipreformgroup.com and register now.
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