HIPs - 1 year on

Friday 1st August marked the one year anniversary of the launch of the Government's Home Information Pack (HIP) scheme.

Initially due to launch in June 2007, a legal challenge by RICS put pressure on the government to move the start date back by 2 months. HIPs were introduced on a phased basis, with only properties with 4 or more bedrooms initially requiring a pack. By December 2007 HIPs were required for the majority of residential property sales in England and Wales.

Despite some sections of the industry and the press criticising the packs, here at Severn Trent Searches HIPs have bedded in well and we continually aim to provide a better service, whether this be in the turnaround times, report format, or customer experience.
Our HIPs service went live on 1st August 2007, and we began offering a range of full HIP solutions, from full packs to required searches, including Energy Performance Certificates to existing and new customers.

Houses with 4 or more bedrooms only represent a small percentage of the Midlands housing market, meaning initially that there was only a limited demand for the packs. However, once the scheme was extended to include 3 bedroom houses, and then in December all properties, we found a huge demand for our service.

The standard HIP from Severn Trent Searches contains all of the required legal elements, including an Energy Performance Certificate, Local Authority Search and our own CON29DW drainage and water enquiry, and all of our products can be both ordered and delivered either electronically or as a hard copy. As a member of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPPs), we produce quality standard HIPs and the searches within our HIPs are fully guaranteed should any problems arise down the line.

Our HIPs also offer a choice of either official or personal local authority search, a choice not offered by the majority of providers. In fact, Severn Trent Searches are working alongside both Derby City Council and Birmingham City Council to offer HIPs in those areas, with official searches, for an unbeatable £250 plus VAT. Birmingham based solicitor Diane Nary of Kenneth Curtis and Co. says; “We will only order a HIP with an official search as we believe personal searches are a waste of time, particularly in our area due to the local authority turn around time.”

The recent downturn in the housing market means a lot of smaller providers haven’t survived the first year of HIPs, but Severn Trent Searches have remained a consistent performer in the marketplace. Our General Manager, Mark Jarvis explains why; “With the financial uncertainty surrounding the housing market at present, conveyancers and estate agents are turning to providers like Severn Trent Searches to prepare HIPS on their behalf. Severn Trent Searches are established in the marketplace and are trusted to provide a quality product.”

HIPs are now well established and are becoming a normal part of the house selling process. There is obviously a way to go, with Amanda Payne from Fishers Solicitors commenting “The HIP, as it stands at the moment, does not go far enough to make the conveyancing process quicker for clients …..having said that, HIPS do seem to be bedding in well and estate agents and solicitors are becoming used to the new process.” The government has recently announced it’s intention to include additional information in the packs, and research has shown that properties with a HIP are selling on average 12 days faster than those without*, which would suggest that, despite the criticism, HIPs are making a difference, and are here to stay.

* Connells Survey& Valuation

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