Search firm loses its accreditation

The Property Codes Compliance Board has suspended the registration of a search firm.

Ms K & Mrs J Burridge, trading as Search Pack UK and Epcworx (also previously known as Fasthipsuk, also trading as Southwest Energy Assessors, Hipsearchuk and Myhipsearchuk), have been removed from the Board’s register.

However, there is nothing to stop them, or other suspended firms, continuing to trade, as the PCCB is a voluntary regulator.

Search Pack UK failed to meet the Board’s compliance requirements.

The Plymouth-based company failed to submit information required for a compliance spot check within specified deadlines. The PCCB therefore imposed a suspension sanction. No appeal against the decision was received.

The firm’s details have been removed from the PCCB Register but may be reinstated at a later date if the firm submits to a further check and subsequently satisfies PCCB’s requirements.

Just four firms have been cancelled since late 2008.

Richard Footitt, chairman of the PCCB, said: “This action once again demonstrates that the PCCB will not hesitate to act where it finds instances of non-compliance. 

“It is in the interests of consumers and the many fully-compliant Code subscriber firms that we uphold the integrity of the Search Code of Practice as the best guarantee of quality and standards in a difficult market.

“The PCCB expects nothing less than fully-compliant practice from Code signatories.”