It has been so easy for Grant Shapps and the other opponents( who seem to be diminishing in numbers) of Home Information Packs to use ‘self interest’ as a weapon whenever a supporter dares to step forward with evidence and intellectual argument on why the HIP should be retained. Indeed this week saw the continuation of an argument started last week when Mr Shapps took it upon himself to challenge, on this very basis, the integrity of a poll commissioned by AHIPP and carried out by IPSOS MORI.
Mr Shapps seems however, based on news emerging yesterday, to be boxing him into a corner with this policy. In a vote of around 100 industry leaders, at The Land Data Great Housing Debate held in Westminster, only four members of the audience voted to scrap HIPs while the majority supported the motion to adapt but not scrap them.
One of those experts, David Newnes, managing director of leading estate agency chain, Your Move, said HIPs had helped stem transaction fall-throughs this year and last, with the rate of exchanges significantly improving from around 33% each month to around 42%.
This is good news for those like the Hip Reform Group who have been tirelessly campaigning over the past 12 months for the HIP to be retained and for discussion to take place on how the HIP can be improved for the benefit of the consumer.
Hopefully the strength of support shown by such a large body of property professionals will at long last begin to register on Mr Shapps’ radar.
I don't think that Grant Shapps has a "radar"
ReplyDeleteIt would appear work also needs to be done with the LibDems...now that Nick Clegg is rising up the hit parade and may well have an impact in the way forward after the election.
ReplyDeleteThe LibDems apparently are on the same side of the fence as Shapps!!
Lets hope Shapps stays a 'shadow' of his former self.
Just to point out that targeting the conservatives purely because they have stated they're against HIPs is very short sighted.
ReplyDeleteWhere on earth do you think this country will end up after another term of labour?
Inflation is just getting started.
If labour continue on the same path as they have been on for the last decade, by the time we get to the same situation as Greece, perhaps you'll realise HIPs weren't the most important issue on the agenda.
And that comes from an energy assessor and pack provider! Sorry!
This is not political - Grant Shapps figures in these posts because he is the most vocal opponent of the HIP on the political circuit.
ReplyDeleteOn the basis that Mr Cameron and the tories hold "Business Leaders" and "industry professionals" with such high regard when it comes to scrapping the National Insurance increase. It will be interesting to see if they follow a similar route with the property industry and listen to the professionals who work in the industry day to day.
ReplyDeleteAll this campaigning to have HIPs retained is great, but what about getting DEAs united somehow so that we can be valued more. I have just been offered the equivalent of £21.85 by a HIP company, not a panel, as the fee for EPCs!!!!!!! regardless of size 1 bed or 5 beds.
ReplyDeleteAbove comment.
ReplyDeleteI hope you said no - I keep getting these idiots on the line and very plain no will do. More fool you if you said yes - you must be desperate. I've been around some of these quick fix EPC (where the vendor is (dissatisfied) dwellings where the DEA have got many of the measurements wrong due to poor quality training or rushing every job due to low rates. They would be better off not doing the report.
AH!... the tick box mob are still busy then!!
ReplyDeleteI too have been offered RdSAP EPC at £42.19, £30, £24, and finally £20. My answer is get a ticky box chap/chapess to do it, what I provide is a certificate to satisfy legislation/Buyers in the first instance.
Being a SAP Assessor I then use SAP2005 to effectivey take the house and it's services apart. Personal reports are fed back to the Occupants based on bespoke recommendations not the generic kind within RdSAP.
I agree with NHER's view that the RdSAP convention should be replaced by full SAP, the differences in ratings is surprising. So what if this means drilling a few holes and using a borescope, cavity wall insulations firms do it.
I may not be the busiest Assessor, but I do command an average fee of £80. Having said this as most of my work is desk based on new build SAPs I don't need to run myself and my industry into the deck by accepting minimum wage as so many others appear to.
It is rather interesting that the panels and HIP providers driving the fees into the deck pay more in commissions to Estate Agents than they do for the EPC. Their turn around targets are quite frankly bonkers...booking made within 2 hours, EPC completed in 24 hours...laughable!
Maybe if the HIP were scrapped and the EPC set free most of these parasitic companies would go out of business and allow the 'profession' to take control back. I agree with Chris about unity, unfortunately there will always be someone in the line that will say yes, as there are some 13,500 qualified DEA's and only 2,000 needed. I see no reason why a prescribed fee similar to the MOT structure has not been put in place.
The worst example of lunacy...A DEA in Bournemouth driving to Swindon for one EPC at £17.50, I would just love to audit that one!!