HIPs: the final countdown?

" I cant see the problem (Tony & Tim). Most Vendors and Agents (if they are truthful) are marketing property without a HIP anyway as no one is policing this whole farce anyway. If HIPs are to go then what are the chances of being fined for not having a HIP? Answer - Zero! "

Currently it is the law and a solicitor/conveyancing will not exchange without one!

Carry on marketing without one and when the purchasers solicitors at the point of exchange ask for the HIP. Tell your clients that you c*cked up. I am sure they will appreciate you professionalism.

• 12 May 2010 22:28 PM

Well said Rob. I have emailed my newly elected Tory MP about this, including this summary:
"All I am asking is that, in the course of the repeal of the legislation, the government should strongly express its recognition that reform of the home transfer process is appropriate & achievable & urge the stakeholder organisations in the industry to basically "get their act together" to provide a universally adopted convention for the provision of up-front information, for the benefit of consumers.

I have no personal vested interest in the existence or otherwise of HIPs. Unlike many others, my livelihood & business will not be ruined by repeal of the legislation. But I despair at the appalling experiences I have, for many years, seen those involved in the home transfer process having to go through. I felt that HIPs were at least a move in the right direction to improve that often traumatic, if brief, period in so many people's lives."

• 12 May 2010 17:36 PM

Rob... Let It Go! Please move on, it's gone. It's an ex-HIP.

• 12 May 2010 16:55 PM

If Hips go completely and nothing else is introduced all the momentum gained will be lost and it will be a step backwards. I have never been a fan of the basic Hip but do believe that some information up front is the way forward. Within the last two weeks an agent and a conveyancer have both said to me that the Hip can help, if used pro-actively. In addition, last week, two sellers discovered tricky legal problems early on that will be resolved, or part resolved, before a buyer has been found.

Nick Salmon, if Cleggy and Cameron can get together, why couldn’t you; me and others do the same (we would not be discussing world peace or the economy!)? You are an estate agent with years experience and I was a conveyancer. As you know, I have outlined a concept which I believe would bring back first day marketing, reduce the pack (not a Hip!!) price substantially and still go some way to being exchange ready.

I have said it before, surely we (those of us who work at, or have worked at, the coal face) can come up with a solution that, estate agents, conveyancers and the public can benefit from? If we don’t, I fear we will have further interference at a later date from another set of, well meaning maybe, but nevertheless unwelcome participants.

Waiting for the onslaught.

• 12 May 2010 15:07 PM

Mr Hajek (Clutton Cox): "Don't delude yourselves, the Govt has more priorities than Hips.

4 years if at all."

Sorry - who is deluding who here?
'The Govt' certainly have many fish to fry - but the newly appointed Housing Minister will have only one pressing motion to pass!
Enjoy the last throes of your terminally wounded revenue stream while you can...

• 12 May 2010 13:44 PM

revenue stream??? I d much rather have 5 extra sales a month then leach off my vendors for the odd £100.. All boycott from today,,we are stronger together!!

• 12 May 2010 13:02 PM

Everyone ask him nicely

David Cameron bulletin@news.conservatives.com

Everyone ask him nicely!!

• 12 May 2010 12:59 PM

Regardless of what happens to the HIP, an EPC will still be required before marketing - so there will still be some minor delay in getting properties on the market.

• 12 May 2010 12:26 PM

The news headlines from the coalition is need for quick and positive action for the country.

HIPs should be suspended with immediate effect. Why delay?

All thats going to happen, vendors are going to wait and see. This will have a knock on effect with new instructions for at least this month? Tighten your belts everyone ....

• 12 May 2010 12:06 PM

Don't delude yourselves, the Govt has more priorities than Hips.

4 years if at all.

• 12 May 2010 12:05 PM

In my view no agent should make money from HIP's, nor indeed from any other referrals.

• 12 May 2010 11:46 AM

Hi Vossy would not be so sure had Trading Standards in a few months ago out of the blue checking hips so if your an agent better watch out understand they did the whole of south coast.

• 12 May 2010 10:42 AM

I like the £100 per hip and free floor plans we receive, more revenue lost!

• 12 May 2010 10:39 AM

Well said, Vossy!

• 12 May 2010 10:06 AM

I cant see the problem (Tony & Tim). Most Vendors and Agents (if they are truthful) are marketing property without a HIP anyway as no one is policing this whole farce anyway. If HIPs are to go then what are the chances of being fined for not having a HIP? Answer - Zero!

• 12 May 2010 09:49 AM

an agent, it will be a shame to see you go. There's enough empty shops already.

• 12 May 2010 09:47 AM

What post anti HIP agents seem to over look is the stall in instructions this will cause and lack of suppy in the interim. Would you put you house on the market if HIPs where going in a week? how about a month?
This is the problem. Already even if they keep them it is affecting supply, not because of the cost of people think they are a bad idea but because people are unsure if they spend £300 today they might not have needed to. We need to focus on this delay, the pro points and if they can be adapted to maybe include a draft contract, maybe remove the abolishment of first day marketing and work with this product rather than scrap it.

• 12 May 2010 09:44 AM

I hope you will all agree it will be a shame to lose and income stream from hip commissions. The delay before marketing a property whilst preparing the hip was also very useful in a number of ways. I for one will be sad to see it go.

• 12 May 2010 09:44 AM

This wil be the first chance to see if we have govt. with common sense or not. I hope so, if they cant get rid of Hips they will get very confused with real decisions like war, defence, benefits etc.
Its a no brainer!!

• 12 May 2010 09:41 AM

Is this the final countdown for Mr SPLINTA's HIP Company then?

• 12 May 2010 09:10 AM

Well, they both said they would do it - lets see once the dust has settled and jobs dished out. They have the mechanism to suspend them without reference to parliament, however I hear that no announcement will be made until after the Queens Speech for protocol reasons.

• 12 May 2010 08:51 AM

The timescale should be very quick, the sooner the better i think for most estate agents. Many vendors of late have held back marketing as a result of speculation, who can blame them. Come on Mr Cameron make this priority.

• 12 May 2010 07:24 AM