The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has welcomed the news. The courses are designed to inform and prepare agents for HIPs and will start on 1 December 2006.
Members of the NAEA have been invited to a series of HIPs courses that will run across the country commencing next month. The courses aim to inform estate agency staff on how to deal with the packs and will provide vital information on all stages of the process from what’s in a pack to potential areas of dispute.
The courses, which provide estate agents with an opportunity to prepare for the packs mandatory introduction next year, will also offer background information to HIPs, advising agents about their role and responsibilities.
Paul Broadhead, deputy director-general for AHIPP, said: “Despite the NAEA’s continued campaign against HIPs I am delighted to see that they are now facing the reality that as of 1 June 2007 HIPs will happen.
“These courses are a vital step in the preparation of estate agents. I am pleased to see that NAEA is now focusing its energy on taking positive steps to inform and prepare its members about packs, rather than asking them to spend more time completing their endless questionnaires asking whether they support the introduction of packs, a pointless exercise when the decision to implement packs has already been made.
“Clearly the NAEA are expecting there be a considerable take up with members urged to book early to secure one of the ‘limited spaces’ and I wish them every success. I would encourage estate agents that are still uncertain about the full implications of the packs or their involvement to attend one of these courses to ensure they are ready because as of 1 June next year HIPs will happen.”
