Insurance News Archive

Hips 'hindering not helping'

The introduction of home information packs (Hips) has not facilitated the home buying process, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has claimed.

Instead of helping, the NAEA has suggested that Hips are a hindrance to the housing market, a conclusion which is in opposition to the findings of the Communities and Local Government (CLG) review of the packs.

The CLG report said estate agents and home buyers had welcomed the introduction of Hips but the NAEA claimed that opinion had a "blatant lack of substance".

"The implied message from the CLG is that everything since the introduction of Hips for three and four bedroom properties is wonderful and rosy," said Stewart Lilly, the NAEA's president.

"Our members are continually reporting to us that this is not the case," he made clear.

A survey conducted by the NAEA revealed a drop in sales of houses with four or more bedrooms, with 63 per cent of estate agents reporting decreases beyond the seasonal drops.

29 Oct 2007