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HIP operation

23 April 2009 / Peter Ambrose
Issue: 7366 / Categories: Features , Property
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HIPs—will they finally provide benefits? asks Peter Ambrose

The credibility of HIPs is certainly not helped by the lack of understanding among HIP providers of basic property legal issues, so it is hardly surprising that faith is often lacking in the accuracy of documents that they produce.

Until 6 April, most estate agents and clients had little to fear about the timely and accurate production of documentation. If the agent could be given an energy chart for their property particulars, then everyone was happy. This limited requirement clearly benefited those HIP providers with scant legal knowledge and ensured that HIPs remained as merely a legal formality that must be completed before contracts could be exchanged.

However, as sellers must now disclose more information about their property and the removal of the crutch of personal search insurance, issues concerning accountability and liability have come to the fore, and the emphasis has switched towards legal matters and responsibility for content.

Information questionnaire

Sellers must now complete a Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) before an estate agent is allowed

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

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