Insurance News Archive

Government unveils property plans

The government has launched a three-fold plan that it hopes will transform the property market in to a far more consumer friendly arena.

It is hoped the scheme will see better, more reliable information provided to prospective buyers at the earliest stage of the process.

Secondly, conveyancing and local searches will be made much more quickly and cheaply under the new guidelines.

The third strand of change involves the complaints system, with a simplified procedure set to be introduced for complaints against estate agents.

Housing minister Yvette Cooper commented: "For too many people, buying or selling their home is still a real nightmare, with long delays and duplication. People should be entitled to proper information at the beginning of the process.

"We know there are still vested interests who make money out of the current system and who are opposed to reform, but this is about getting a better deal for the consumer."

Home Information Packs (Hips), set to be introduced in June of next year, are central to the government's plans to provide reliable and manageable information for all parties of the homebuying process.

16 Jun 2006