I received a Google Alert at the weekend that had picked up on a Twitter written by Grant Shapps. It related to an article in this week’s Sunday Express regarding the flouting by some Estate Agent’s of the Home Information Pack Regulations. Mr Shapps had come across the article and seemed so impressed with it that he decided to circulate its existence through Tweeting a link to his many followers. The fact it made reference to him and of his intent to make HIPs ‘history’ may have been the reason it caught his eye.
For those who missed this ‘non story’ and piece of poorly written journalism, the story was based on a report or statement from the National Association of Estate Agents. It was reported that the Association had received “numerous” complaints from its members that unscrupulous competitors were by-passing HIPs altogether. Peter Bolton King, NAEA chief -executive, said it was “very common” for agents to tell sellers they would sort out the HIP later but “Could we send Mr Smith round tonight?”
It irritates me to read articles of this type as it really serves only to distract the reader from looking at the real story that is even more concerning than one or two agents ‘trying’ it on. Yes, there is still non compliance and although Trading Standard Departments around the Country are beginning to take pro active measures to stamp this put, there is still some way to go before we will be seeing 100% compliance. The TSD in Birmingham during a recent ‘dawn raid’ on estate agents found a small degree of non compliance but this was lower than had been expected. The truth is that most agents do comply and there are a large number of agents who value the benefits of upfront information and also the extra revenue the HIP has generated for their businesses.
Incidentally, I ask where was Mr King when Which? produced its report on the high and extortionate level of commissions some of his agents have earned and continue to earn on the re-sale of HIPs?
I also ask both Mr King and Mr Shapps as to why they are expressing public surprise about non compliance when the messages emanating from both their offices is that HIPs are ‘hated’ and are to be scrapped.
As the law currently stands a HIP is required and both the Conservatives and NAEA should be encouraging professionals and the public to ensure they comply with that law and not to make statements that only create further and unnecessary uncertainty in a very delicate property market.
Surely the real stories here concerns this uncertainty and of how it could very well lead to a stalling of the property market recovery unless Conservatives come out and make the detail of their policy on the home buying and selling process known. I am not the only person who believes this – Rightmove in a news release last week made similar comment.
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