The calls follow the government’s decision in July to make the Home Condition Report (HCR) a voluntary component of HIPs. On the back of this, it asked the industry to come forward with suggestions on the most effective way to introduce voluntary HCRs. However, despite a number of options being presented by RICS and the DCLG, the government has not responded to the proposals.
Louis Armstrong, chief executive at RICS, said: “The government’s policy objective to improve home buying and selling can be achieved only be working closely with all professionals in the marketplace. At present the industry feels alienated; its expert advice is being marginalised; and the essential government/industry partnership is not working. The consumer deserves better.”
RICs outburst coincides with findings from Easier2move, which shows an increase in the awareness of HIPs. Its HIP Awareness Index showed 89 per cent of estate agents are now almost fully aware of the purpose of a HIP. However, concerns were raised over the 16 per cent of those surveyed who said their firms were not planning on trialling HIPs, while 57 per cent were unaware of when their employers intended to carry out a trial. Only 19 per cent of respondents had started trialling HIPs.
Karen Babington, marketing director at Easier2move, said: “More and more estate agents are being educated as to what these packs involve, but the story doesn’t end there. Among the estate agents we surveyed, there was a real sense of frustration that the goal posts keep moving and that any potential usefulness has now been lost. Perhaps this is the reason why preparation for June 2007 has been so lacking.”
