Survey on HIPs closes after 'hijack' attempt

SPLINTA founder Nick Salmon has had to close his survey into attitudes towards HIPs after it was ‘hijacked’.

The survey asked agents and other property professionals whether they would support a partial or total boycott of HIPs, and whether they would join an anti-HIP demonstration in London.

It also asked whether they had found that HIPs were adversely affecting the market by discouraging possible sellers, and whether the Conservatives’ pledge to ditch HIPs would influence their voting intentions.

However, after a flurry of posts about the survey on a forum for Domestic Energy Assessors and Home Inspectors, Salmon said he had no option but to halt the survey.

He said:  “I can tell by the pattern of responses that someone organised a concerted blitz of pro-HIP answers, because after days of mixed answers, there was a sudden glut of pro-HIP answers all within minutes of one another.

“I have therefore closed the survey and will stand on the statistics that you have already published.”

He added: “I do find it amusing that the DEAs/HIs are getting hot under the collar about estate agents potentially boycotting HIPs. All we have been gauging is the strength of feeling.

“The perpetrators know the days of HIPs are numbered. It is just a shame that their infantile behaviour has spoiled what might have been a useful bit of market research.”

He said it was a pity that CLG had not done a proper survey, with questions derived from professional researchers and overseen by the main stakeholders, both pro and anti.

The initial survey results, which it is believed analysed 250 opinions, were published on EAT on Wednesday and can be found in the news archive.