The chief executive of HIP Payment Services, Jeff Smith has called the Packs a "political football" and criticised the Tories for using them as a platform from which to launch another attack against the Labour regime - saying that his firm will be organising a public debate in the New Year to allow the industry's key players a voice on the matter.
"Whilst participating in an open and balanced debate, it will also provide the perfect opportunity for the opposition to actually inform us all of how they propose to improve the house buying and selling process if not through HIPs," said Smith.
“What also astounds me about the Tory opposition to HIPs is the absurd ever-presence of TV personality Kirstie Allsopp," he added. "Whilst masquerading as a people’s champion and ‘voice of the consumer’ on HIPs for the past two years, the truth is that Kirsty is simply the vehicle for a campaign of see-through celebrity propaganda from the Tories.
Smith is less than impressed with the façade supposedly put on by the Location, Location, Location spokesperson who he says is an out and out Tory politician.
Supporting the Tory battle is Nicholas Leeming FRICS, major clients' director of propertyfinder.com. Debates aside, he says the Packs have actually achieved "the opposite of what was intended."
“The government failed to consult the industry properly and ended up with an unworkable mess. We welcome any review that may lead to real, positive change for the housing market. Most importantly, the industry’s views must be taken into account - implementation without consultation is a recipe for disaster.
"Making offers legally binding sounds attractive, but buyers must go to a lot of trouble and expense before offer stage and with no guarantee of success. And getting a mortgage will always depend on a successful survey, so an agreement in principle from a lender beforehand will not speed things up much either."
