6th March 2008 - AHHIP respond to area trials resultsThe Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has welcomed todays statement by Housing Minister, Caroline Flint.The publication of the results of the Government's area trials clearly show that consumers believe the new home buying and selling process is much improved with 72% of consumers being fairly or very satisfied with Home Information Packs (HIPs). The results evidence a 10% reduction in the time taken to reach exchange of contracts reducing the stress incurred during this period of great uncertainty and allowing consumers to plan their move with greater confidence. One of the key objectives of HIPs is to speed up the process and clearly this is being achieved. The 7% of consumers that said HIPs have helped them in making the decision whether to buy or not appears low. However the Government figures show that in many cases buyers did not see the HIP so the real figure is far higher, perhaps more like 17%. There is no doubt that this will be a vital factor in reducing transaction failure, one of the other key objectives of the implementation of HIPs. Commenting on the results, Paul Broadhead, Deputy Director General AHIPP said 'These results show that even some months ahead of the implementation of HIPs across the country, consumers in a number of locations were already seeing the benefits of the new process. What is also clear is that property professionals did not engage fully with the process and many consumers did not see the HIP on their property. Had they done so the results would surely have been even better. Clearly where buyers were shown the packs they liked what they saw and understood the content. I would now call on all those parties serving home buyers and sellers to work positively with HIPs, ensuring that they are shown and explained to consumers. If everyone engages fully in the process HIPs will help consumers move home with less stress, less wasted cost and greater certainty'
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