AHIPP TAKES HIPS FURTHER

Following the successful early roll out of Home Information Packs (HIPs) in six locations across the UK, the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) is now ready to announce an additional 12 locations where its members will be offering consumers an opportunity to purchase a pack ahead of their mandatory introduction in June next year.

Over 90 local businesses, including estate agents, pack providers and home inspectors in the first six locations have committed their support and signed up to take part in the early roll out which commenced on the 6th November in Newcastle. Consumers in each of the selected locations are now able to request a HIP to aid a faster and more transparent sale of their home, with a number of packs commissioned within the first few days of the launch going live.

AHIPP has now identified a further 12 locations where the packs will be rolled out early in 2007: A section of the M4 corridor (to include Reading, Basingstoke and Wokingham); Manchester; Cardiff; Coventry; Hereford and the Marches; Bristol; Leicester; Chelmsford; Nottingham; Plymouth; Liverpool and the Thames corridor (from North Kent and London to the Channel).

Paul Broadhead, Deputy Director General of AHIPP said: “The early roll out of packs will allow a phased implementation, ensuring that industry is fully prepared to handle demand when the packs become mandatory on 1st June next year. By launching the packs ahead of the June deadline we aim to avoid a ‘big bang implementation’ and induce a smoother and more efficient transition of packs across the market.

“While criticism from a number of industry bodies cannot be ignored, we have in fact received a hugely positive response in the first six roll out locations from both industry and consumers. To maintain this positive momentum and to support the smooth introduction of packs next June, we are now extending the roll out, with our members in an additional 12 locations offering packs, as of January 2007.

“From 1st June next year, every consumer placing a residential property on the market will have to acquire a HIP, regardless of current opposition claims and demands. It will be those organisations that have had the foresight to take action now, to prepare for the introduction of HIPs and to begin marketing the packs with their customers who will have the competitive edge, emerging as the market leaders.”