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Alan Milstein

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No one is saying that the home buying and selling process in England and Wales doesn't need imaginative reform, but pointing to the Norwegian market as a model for how we do things shows how far out of touch with reality Baroness Penn really is. And telling a group of conveyancers that this is the way to go....when the reality is that conveyancers would likely be put out of business by a Norwegian model, seems to highlight the complete lack of understanding. The reality is that most estate agents in Norway are owned by large banks, and the estate agent, who is qualified to solicitor level, does all the work. There is, as I understand it, no separate conveyancer involved! Add to that a very much smaller market that bears little or no comparison to that in the UK and, frankly, unless we completely start from scratch with a "blank sheet" new conveyancing process reference to "the Norwegian system" is pretty much for academic interest only.

From: Alan Milstein 08 February 2024 08:14 AM

I wonder what Mr McGrail thinks, or knows, what surveyors actually do? Perhaps he should come and talk to us at the Residential Property Surveyors Association (rpsa.org.uk) and we can demonstrate that this is exactly the sort of information that our reports already include.

From: Alan Milstein 23 August 2021 08:44 AM

So the RICS standards make life clearer by replacing three confusing levels of inspection with........ three levels of inspection. Hmmmm. And now it requires surveyors to take extra time to explain why they are not going to inspect the property fully. This is supposed to be clearer? Fortunately, the Residential Property Surveyors Association RPSA issued the industry's highest survey inspection and reporting standards last week (no blaming Covid for delays!). All surveys are based on a full and thorough inspection (so no lengthy explanations about what we are not doing) with either a "light" or "heavy" report based on the property type. That keeps it clear and simple and is easily understood by home buyers. The RPSA standards are designed to give independent surveyors a clear USP and, more importantly, give home buyers an easily understood proposition that will deliver the highest quality product.

From: Alan Milstein 11 November 2020 08:49 AM

The problem with all changes of this type to house taxation is that it causes spikes in transaction volumes which, inevitably lead to an unstable market. Ask any conveyance what happens when there's a report on the news about SDLT rates changing, and they will tell you about the flood of calls they get from clients wanting to bring forward, push back, or withdraw from a purchase. What we need now is sustained growth and stability in the market and not the inevitable chasm that will result when the SDLT holiday ends.

From: Alan Milstein 14 May 2020 10:46 AM

Having been a member of the House Buying & Selling Group (HSBG) since it's inception, I can only reiterate that this proposal, alongside the reservation agreement trial, is a genuine attempt by the industry to find ways of improving the house buying and selling process. Unsurprisingly, since the HIPS debacle, Government are nervous about making wholesale changes to the industry, but they are supportive of the industry trying to find its' own solutions. There are no magic wands to reforming the process, but the HBSG brings together all sides of the industry to see where improvements can be made. And it is the likes of Rob Hailstone and Beth Rudolph who have worked incredibly hard to help those solutions evolve. No, it's not going to change everything overnight, but it's a step in the right direction.

From: Alan Milstein 21 October 2019 09:30 AM

Exactly why we should all be encouraging buyers to get good condition surveys. All those questions could have been answered! A good survey (not one full of caveats and exclusions) is valuable to everyone in the house buying process. It informs buyers about the condition of the property, giving them greater confidence in their buying decision, which in turn helps agents as they have more committed buyers, and helps conveyancers by avoiding ridiculous requests for building compliance certificates for 30 year old extensions!

From: Alan Milstein 11 October 2018 07:43 AM

No, there is no requirement on a buyer to obtain a condition survey of the property they are intending to buy. Those buying with the aid of a mortgage are required to obtain a valuation (usually carried out by the lender on behalf of the buyer) but this is not intended to provide the buyer with information about the condition of the property. Unfortunately, in the past, some surveyors have had a tendency to provide overly negative reports on properties in order to protect themselves from future claims. Certainly for those RPSA members that I represent this type of defensive surveying is a thing of the past and RPSA surveyors now approach the job in a positive way designed to help all of those involved in the selling and buying process. The Home Information Pack, cancelled by the newly elected coalition government in 2010 was originally to have included a survey of the property called a Home Condition Report (HCR). The HCR never made it into the HIP as the, then the Labour, government changed it from a mandatory to an optional element of the Home Information Pack, and effectively killed it. There is a product on the market called the Condition Report. This is a very brief review of a property which, to my mind, is not really fit for purpose as it does not require a surveyor to enter the roof space or lift up drain covers. I really can't see the point of carrying out a survey that is not complete and comprehensive. Many of the members of the RPSA offer the Home Condition Survey which is a full and thorough inspection provided in a report format that is jargon free and supported by multiple photographs. Typical costs for a Home Condition Survey would be £300-£600 for an average property.

From: Alan Milstein 03 September 2015 11:05 AM

Surely, the best way that agents can ensure they are meeting their obligations in respect of informing prospective purchasers about potential defects in the property is to recommend that they obtain a good quality and detailed survey prior to making any buying decision. Making this recommendation to clients at an early stage would go a long way to demonstrating that they are complying with the guidance. I understand why agents have traditionally been reluctant to encourage buyers to obtain a survey, but the world is changing now. Certainly, speaking for the members of the RPSA, we like to approach our surveys in a positive way and see them as helping the selling and buying process, rather than hindering it. By conducting a thorough and detailed inspection the surveyor can, in most cases, explain the background and the nature of any defects in a calm and jargon free way, and avoid constant references to further investigations. Good quality reports, including lots of photos and clear, concise information, help validate a buying decision and ensure that agents are assisting buyers in making informed choices. Alan Milstein Chairman - Residential Property Surveyors Association

From: Alan Milstein 03 September 2015 08:30 AM

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