Ahipp hits back at Lords report

Posted: 04 May 2007 11:48:14 GMT

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (Ahipp) has criticised the House of Lords report published this week, which had called for the government's Home information packs (Hips) scheme to be axed.

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (Ahipp) has criticised the House of Lords report published this week, which had called for the government's Home information packs (Hips) scheme to be axed.

Ahipp Director General told Firstrung he believed the Lords report was severely flawed, saying it had "not presented a balanced and fair review" of the scheme.

Reflecting the response of housing minister Yvette Cooper to the report, he said the merits committee, which produced the study, had not consulted industry bodies - including Ahipp - or environmental groups.

He conceded that change always brought opposition from some but added: "If the committee had successfully consulted with the full range of industry bodies involved, a number of the conclusions drawn may have been very different."

In contrast with Ahipp, estate agents National Homebuyers have issued a statement reiterating their opposition to Hips.

The company points to the outcome of the Cost of Moving 2007 survey by Woolwich, which showed that 85 per cent of estate agents believed Hips would increase the cost of moving house.


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