It’s reassuring to know that despite the image some hold of home information pack providers, and the constant question marks raised about the professionalism of the HIP industry, a survey carried out by Trading Standards at Birmingham City Council has revealed that there were no major problems found with over two thirds of home information packs when these were checked during a recent survey.
More significantly was the finding that 87% of HIPs produced by HIP Code subscribers were found to satisfactory or reasonably satisfactory with personal searches being found to be on a par with those sourced from local authorities.
The survey was very thorough and measured, rightly so, HIPs against a strict criteria.
One third of the HIPs examined revealed problems such as no information on complaint, no redress procedure, no consumer information, no company contact details, technical Issues with the search, HIP Index related issues. Though this is by no means satisfactory, generally speaking these are problems that do not largely obscure the objective and benefits of the HIP, and are ones some would expect to see when examining the workings of a new industry that has had over the past year or so quite a few obstacles thrown in its way.
The main message emerging from the Survey is the importance to the consumer of always choosing a pack provider who subscribes to the HIP Code when it comes to ordering a HIP. This point was echoed by Chris Neville, Head of Trading Standards at Birmingham City Council:
“The exercise shows that the market is generally compliant, but buyers should be aware that not all HIPs can be taken at face value as being accurate. Birmingham Trading Standards will keep a watchful eye on the estate agent and HIP provider market, and we urge buyers to contact us if HIPs are not made available by estate agents at the time of marketing. To avoid any confusion over the accuracy of information provided in a HIP, we recommend that both buyers and estate agents should choose a HIP Code registered firm, as our survey has found these to be the most trustworthy”.
The fact that over 95% of agents surveyed were complying with the HIP regulations is also significant and again shows there is little credibility in the claims by Grant Shapps and other Conservative MPs that the HIP is of no use to anybody.
Richard Footitt, Chairman of the Property Codes Compliance Board, commenting on the survey findings says:
“This exercise gives a timely and reliable insight into the current level of compliance within the industry, and should serve as a warning to both estate agents and HIP providers that they must comply with the law and regulations. That said, it was encouraging to note that 95% of agents were complying with the requirement to have a HIP available when marketing a property and also that 90% of HIPs from PCCB registered HIP Code subscribers met or exceeded levels of good practice. We urge other Trading Standards offices to follow Birmingham’s lead to ensure high standards of compliance and consumer protection are maintained”.
No we know compliance is not a major problem, and as self regulation within the industry seems to working, surely now is the time for Grant Shapps to begin to recognize the worth of the HIP and of how this has become three years after its introduction an established part of the home selling and buying process. The home owner, as was recently acknowledged by the Chairman of the National Association of Estate Agents, receives protection from the HIP regulations, and as the market is picking up there is a growing and widespread recognition of the benefits conferred by the HIP.
For full report and links to the Survey please click HERE
More significantly was the finding that 87% of HIPs produced by HIP Code subscribers were found to satisfactory or reasonably satisfactory with personal searches being found to be on a par with those sourced from local authorities.
The survey was very thorough and measured, rightly so, HIPs against a strict criteria.
One third of the HIPs examined revealed problems such as no information on complaint, no redress procedure, no consumer information, no company contact details, technical Issues with the search, HIP Index related issues. Though this is by no means satisfactory, generally speaking these are problems that do not largely obscure the objective and benefits of the HIP, and are ones some would expect to see when examining the workings of a new industry that has had over the past year or so quite a few obstacles thrown in its way.
The main message emerging from the Survey is the importance to the consumer of always choosing a pack provider who subscribes to the HIP Code when it comes to ordering a HIP. This point was echoed by Chris Neville, Head of Trading Standards at Birmingham City Council:
“The exercise shows that the market is generally compliant, but buyers should be aware that not all HIPs can be taken at face value as being accurate. Birmingham Trading Standards will keep a watchful eye on the estate agent and HIP provider market, and we urge buyers to contact us if HIPs are not made available by estate agents at the time of marketing. To avoid any confusion over the accuracy of information provided in a HIP, we recommend that both buyers and estate agents should choose a HIP Code registered firm, as our survey has found these to be the most trustworthy”.
The fact that over 95% of agents surveyed were complying with the HIP regulations is also significant and again shows there is little credibility in the claims by Grant Shapps and other Conservative MPs that the HIP is of no use to anybody.
Richard Footitt, Chairman of the Property Codes Compliance Board, commenting on the survey findings says:
“This exercise gives a timely and reliable insight into the current level of compliance within the industry, and should serve as a warning to both estate agents and HIP providers that they must comply with the law and regulations. That said, it was encouraging to note that 95% of agents were complying with the requirement to have a HIP available when marketing a property and also that 90% of HIPs from PCCB registered HIP Code subscribers met or exceeded levels of good practice. We urge other Trading Standards offices to follow Birmingham’s lead to ensure high standards of compliance and consumer protection are maintained”.
No we know compliance is not a major problem, and as self regulation within the industry seems to working, surely now is the time for Grant Shapps to begin to recognize the worth of the HIP and of how this has become three years after its introduction an established part of the home selling and buying process. The home owner, as was recently acknowledged by the Chairman of the National Association of Estate Agents, receives protection from the HIP regulations, and as the market is picking up there is a growing and widespread recognition of the benefits conferred by the HIP.
For full report and links to the Survey please click HERE
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