It looks like time has been called on the Home Information Pack (HIP). As from tomorrow (21st May 2010) there will no longer be a requirement for a HIP to be produced before a property can be marketed. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will still need to be produced under EU Directive.
So was it worth it? The concept behind the HIP was, principally, to reduce delays in the home buying process and increase transparency. In reality, the delays were simply shifted from during the process to before the process.
The situation was compounded by the fact that the legal search carried out in most HIP’s was limited and most Solicitors refused (probably quite rightly) to rely on them. This necessitated a further search, additional delay and more expenditure.
When the HIP was first mooted, there was to be a condition report included. In their wisdom, it was decided that rather than rely on thousands of able and very well qualified surveyors, they would throw the market open to anyone to train as a Home Inspector (no previous experience required). Anyone wanting to be a Home Inspector had to pass through this training. Not surprisingly, most surveyors felt this was rather insulting to their professional qualifications and expertise. As a result, come implementation day, there were nowhere near enough Home Inspectors and the idea of a condition report was scrapped.
I strongly suspect that the HIP will not be missed by solicitors, surveyors, estate agents or the majority of the general public. I do, however, have a great deal of sympathy for the 3000 or so people who spend their days compiling the HIP’s who come tomorrow will have lost their livelihood.