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Government urged to 'go further' with Hips

11 August 2008

The success of home information packs (Hips) in their existing form ought to prompt the government to "go even further", it has been claimed.

All homes marketed for sale since December last year have been legally required to have a Hip containing a number of compulsory documents, including standard searches, sale statements and evidence of title.

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (Ahipp) has asserted the packs mean a consumer buying a home is now able to make more informed decisions, while the time taken to exchange contracts has been reduced significantly.

Paul Broadhead, deputy director general of Ahipp, said packs had ensured consumers experience "faster transactions, reduced stress, cheaper searches and better protection".

"I believe the government should now go even further. The provision of a condition report and full environmental information would really drive consumer demand for Hips," he commented.

The regulatory framework is now in place to make the house buying process more efficient, Mr Broadhead added.

However, the Law Society recently told the BBC that a number of estate agents were breaking the law by not providing Hips when properties go on sale.

Paul Marsh, president of the body, said solicitors were sometimes not receiving a pack until contracts were exchanged.