Pink will enable its appointed representatives (ARs) to access a free HIP, minus the Energy Performance Certificate, for their clients via a website link.
The network said it decided to introduce this offer as it believed HIPs would be one of the biggest issues to face the housing market during 2007 and that it was networks’ responsibility to provide solutions for ARs in time for the HIPs launch date of 1 June 2007.
Pink warned that if brokers waited until June to provide HIPs, there could be complications.
Phil Whitehouse, business opportunities manager at Pink, explained: “There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding HIPs. In 2006, a lot of people didn’t think it would happen. However, as the market wakes up to the prospect, we believe it is important for brokers to make plans to ensure they can offer a full service to their clients.”
With all sorts of predictions over what may happen to the intermediary market once HIPS are established, Pink wants to help intermediaries ensure they do not loose business to estate agents or solicitors who may come across their customers first.
The free HIPs trial will end on 1 June 2007, although Pink insisted it was talking to several other organisations with the idea of offering links to a choice of two or three HIPs providers.
David Sheppard, director at Principia Mortgages, commented: “If brokers close the door to the concept of offering HIPs they could probably lose business, but I suspect that HIP providers will have business development managers (BDMs) visiting intermediares to sell products in a similar way to the way lender BDMs operate. Estate agents and solicitors may try to take business but no more than they already do. Clients are intelligent people and will realise that you don’t get something for nothing.”
