AHIPP says Hips "streamline" process of buying and selling homes

Posted: 22 Jul 2008 13:32:49 GMT

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has hit back against claims by the government that Hips should be scrapped.

According to AHIPP, Hips help both house buyers and sellers and can "streamline" the process of moving.

In response to the Shadow Housing Minister's claims that Hips are merely "red tape" and that the "housing market will be better when they go", Mike Ockenden, director general at AHIPP has said that "experienced property professionals" understand the benefits of the system.

Mr Ockenden continued: "HIPs can provide to better inform consumers and streamline the home buying and selling process. It is highly unlikely that they will be influenced by further political posturing."

The government's home information pack service is nearing its first anniversary and, according to David Askew, general manager of Northumbrian Water Property Solutions, consumers are benefitting from them.
Describing how the system will work best, Mr Askew said: "The latest figures show consumers are benefiting from Hips. More than 700,000 homes have energy ratings as a result, helping homeowners save money on their fuel bills and cut carbon emissions."

Mr Askew believes that, if Hips are "competitively priced and produced quickly", they will benefit home buyers and sellers.

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