AHIPP challenges local authorities over Hips

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has challenged local authorities over withholding information.

Home information packs (Hips) are presently subject to temporary measures put in the place by the government that are scheduled to expire at the end of the year.

One of these measures allows private sector search companies to use insurance to cover risks to consumers where local authorities withhold information from them to compile full searches.

Should this arrangement expire at the end of the year, local authorities will find themselves subject to "massive pressure" and negative publicity if they are not in a position to provide access to the information that private search companies need to do their job.

The government for its part has provided clear guidance to local authorities in terms of the access they should provide to the private sector.

In response the AHIPP is challenging to local authorities to "sort themselves out now" or face the consequences in due course.

"While it is important to acknowledge that there are some excellent authorities that do not restrict access to the information that they maintain, they are in the minority," said Mike Ockenden, director general, AHIPP.

It is thought some 75 per cent of all authorities do not provide access in accordance with the government's own guidelines.

"The clock is ticking with only six months to go to the end of the year. I will be writing to the chief executives of those authorities to provide a clear challenge to sort this unacceptable situation out," added Mr Ockenden.

Home information packs were introduced on December 14th, 2007 – following an incremental roll-out.

Presently certain restrictions apply to their application, all of which are scheduled to be removed by "the end of the year".

Chris O'Toole