Government losing faith with HIPs

Addressing the Commons Local Government Committee, Beckett said: “Given all the abuse that HIPs suffered, I think they have been relatively successful but that doesn’t mean that they are fulfilling their potential.

“Given their limitations, they have some degree of beneficial impact but I fully accept that they are not, perhaps, the perfect vehicle we might wish for. I accept they’re not working to the potential they could.”

These comments were seized upon by Tory members of the Committee who suggested she suspend HIPS as a response to current market conditions. Beckett refused to do so.

Afterwards, Shadow Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, said: “The industry does not want HIPs and the public do not want them, now the Housing Minister has expressed grave doubts about them.

“It has taken a financial crisis and the third Labour Housing Minister in nine months to finally admit that HIPs are an expensive, useless, bureaucratic nightmare.

“If the Housing Minister can admit that the Government got HIPs wrong then she can stand up to the Prime Minister and use the legislation which allows HIPs to be suspended.”

This was followed up today by the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) cancelling the registration of Consearch as a subscriber to the Search and HIP Codes of Practice for failure to comply with its Registration Rules.

The Blackburn based search and HIP provider was recently inspected against the requirements of the Codes and failed to satisfactorily comply with the required rectifications within the specified time. The firm's details have been removed from the PCCB Register.

Richard Footitt, chairman of the PCCB, said: “The PCCB’s decision to take forward this cancellation shows that we are determined to ensure that HIPs and search reports are of the high standard people expect. Consumers are not well served by those commissioning or producing sub-standard HIPs and searches, and the PCCB will act against any company registered with them where they have clearly breached either of the Codes.”

Commenting, Michael Tolland, commercial director of OneSearch Direct, said: “The PCCB is ensuring that Home Information Packs (HIPs), and the searches within them, are of the highest standards possible. In turn this allows the consumer quality information at the start of the home buying process, allowing an informed decision.”