Rumours of the death of HIPs have been greatly exaggerated, explains Peter Ambrose
When the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly, rose to speak in the House of Commons at 3.30pm on 22 May, the home information pack (HIP) industry held its collective breath. With HIPs due to start in a matter of days, preparation and implementation among estate agents, HIP providers and solicitors had been building to a noisy crescendo.
Ten minutes later, this had been replaced by a palpable vacuum.
The delay to HIPs resulted in hastily rewritten editorials, cancellation of HIP-based advertising and the dismissal of support staff hired just days before.
Although analysts immediately predicted this was the beginning of the end for HIPs, a week later, with the dust settled, the government has reaffirmed its commitment at cabinet level. Although the green fog of the energy performance certificate (EPC) has clouded the project, HIPs continue to be a government manifesto pledge to improve the house buying and selling process. With trade advertising due to restart in June,
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