The CML said the timetable for HIPs’ introduction increasingly lacked credibility and the government should wait until full evidence from research and area trials was available to base an informed decision on the effectiveness of HIPs.
The government’s slow recognition of the problems with local authority searches was criticised by the CML, which said it was not a new issue and should have been resolved well before the HIPs introduction.
The CML also voiced concern that regulatory impact assessments would be published too late for full scrutiny and the HIP approach ‘gold plates’ the requirements of the European Directive for the delivery of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
Jackie Bennett, head of policy for the CML, commented: “No one would dispute the house buying process is slow in the UK and could usefully be sped up to benefit consumers, but there is no clear evidence HIPs will solve the problems. This close to the implementation date, there are still far too many unknowns about the potential market impacts.”
Mike Ockenden, director general of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers, said: “There is sufficient evidence to suggest HIPs will work. While there is room for improvement in speeding up local authority searches – an issue government is addressing – we see no reason why there should be any delays.”
