Ahipp criticise Tory proposals to scrap Hips

Tuesday, 2 October 2007 12:00 AM

Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps announced at the Tory party conference in Blackpool yesterday his party would scrap home information packs (Hips) should they return to office.

"They [the government] didn't listen when we said Hips are clumsy, ineffective and useless. And they had to bypass parliamentary scrutiny to force them through," said Mr Shapps.

"The experts ridiculed them, the industry doesn't want them; the market doesn't need them; and I can announce to you today the next Conservative government will scrap them."

However, their role is indispensable and the scheme should be maintained according to the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (Ahipp).

"Abolishing Hips to make it 'easier and cheaper' to buy homes as cited by the [Tory] party, is the very reason why the packs have been introduced in the first place," commented AHIPP director general Mike Ockenden.

"Currently one in four transactions fail when purchasing a house, costing consumers £1 million per day and it seems strange the Conservatives wish to continue this sorry state of affairs for buyers and sellers.

"Hips have been introduced to make the house buying process more transparent and quicker and this will benefit all buyers."

The packs are of even more use to certain sections of the market according to Ahipp.

"It will particularly help first time buyers, a group of homebuyers the Conservatives are supposed to be trying to help," continued Mr Ockenden.

"Hips mean these cash strapped buyers have all the information they need up front, paid for by the vendor."

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