Home Information packs in the news

[Loosehead]

It seems that lenders are not recognising the HIP's and I don't blame them. Property sellers now have to fork out on a worthless document!. Is this another ill thought out governement initiative? surely a blind man could have seen this comming!

[warpig3]

Couldn't agree more loosehead. This is a transcript I read in May's Private Eye (so it must be true!!!)

"Not everyone thinks its mad for the government to press on with its �600 HIP, a report of questionable value which all property sellers will have to provide to purchasers from next month.
Former Labour housing minister Nick Raynsford, for example, still appears to be a fan.
Mr Raynsford supplements his MP's salary as a non-executive director of Hometrack, a firm, he notes in the register of MP's interests, that provides 'valuation and related services in the housing market'.
The MP for Greenwich and Woolich doesn't find space to point out that Hometrack wants to sell HIP's through its joint venture business, 'Open Book', - or that he helped introduce the hated HIP into parliament in the first place."

Makes you wonder.................

[Reverandfunk]

Not sure about the actual content of the packs but if 3 people are interested in a house at present are three surveys done, 3 mining checks etc etc?

[Loosehead]

I can see the reasoning reverend and yes it is logical but when you think it through there are all sorts of problems. I mean no lender is going to trust a survey that's been preprepared, all manner of skulduggery can take place.

[OBonio]

Forget the lenders, I wouldn't trust a HIP and would have my own survey done!

[rosekat]

Why ?????

[Le Chat]

..and there's another angle to this. It has been widely reported that there is a shortage of trained people to carry out these reports. Therefore, anyone can train to be a DEA (domestic energy assessor) You will need to do NVQ level 3 and pay about �3000 for the course. After this you can then tout yourself to Surveyors offices and Estate Agents offering your expertise at �130 approx per house visit. However, the various bodies have either trained themselves or their staff to carry out the 'surveys' and it is nigh on impossible to find an opening as a DEA. So if anyone is thinking of training as it seems easy money, don't be fooled ...unless you've already got your foot in the door, it won't be opening anytime soon!