Despite the recent publication of a timeline for HIPs implementation, some people who are undertaking the course are being disillusioned by talk of HIPs being scrapped.
Mike Fitzgerald, sales director at Brentchase Financial Services, reported he was aware of two trainee home inspectors that had recently quit and that continuing uncertainty was sowing the seeds of doubt in people’s minds.
“Conservative party leader David Cameron’s outburst will have put off a lot of prospective home inspectors – why would you go on a course and spend loads of money on the training when you know the next Conservative government will scrap HIPs? People could have a short career as the next general election will be in the next three or four years.”
However, Jim Gillespie, principal at Independent Financial Services and a trainee home inspector, was unflinching in his commitment and believed David Cameron’s outburst was just another example of political point scoring.
“This kind of thing really saddens me about politics as they use something like HIPs to score points against each other. I’m totally focussed on becoming a home inspector and I know that if they are scrapped, myself and the hundreds of other people currently training will go on to do some other sort of surveying work.”
Mike Ockenham, director-general of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPPs), was also unconcerned.
“People changing their minds by listening to Cameron should not, as HIPs go live in 14 months time and there is nothing he can do to stop it. The law has already been passed and despite his brave language now, once the benefits to the consumer have been seen, they won’t consider scrapping it.”
