Waterside Properties welcome the government’s recent decision to scrap the controversial Home Information Packs (HIPs).
HIPs were launched in 2007 and have since become mandatory for anyone selling a property – but they have been dogged by criticism from both estate agents and sellers.
But today Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, laid an order before Parliament suspending HIPS, pending primary legislation for a permanent abolition.
Peter Halliday, managing director of Waterside Properties, said the decision to scrap the packs, which cost between 200 pounds and 400 pounds, could give a much needed boost to the housing market.
He said: “HIPs added a lot of unnecessary red tape to the process of selling a property. They were a real pain for sellers and made the process much longer than it had to be.
“When the market got tough they were a very unwelcome added cost for the seller and may have stopped some people putting their houses on the market.”
“I think it is a positive decision to scrap HIPs and hopefully it will boost the housing market at a time when it is showing signs of coming back to life. Hopefully this is a sign that the new coalition government is going to be pro-active in helping out the housing market.”
Sellers will still have to have an energy performance certificate (EPC), showing how energy efficient a property is, in place within 28 days of putting their home on the market, as this is a requirement under EU law. The cost of an EPC, which must be commissioned before a property can go on the market, is typically around 60 to 70 pounds.
