Are HIPs History?

According to pre-election positioning, the Conservatives have pledged to remove HIPs from the property transaction. So as they look likely (but not certain) to form the next government as a minority or as a coalition have HIPs had their day?

From the point of view of the practicing Energy Assessor, I hope so (although part of me does actually like what the HIP does, more on that later).

So why would I be happy to see the end of HIPs - it is basically reverting each element of the housing transaction to the experts or professionals qualified to do the job.

Searches and conveyancing would then be pretty much handled by solicitors, or legal practices. They have always done the conveyancing historically, so this is a return to a previous status quo.

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - the new kid on the block, is wrapped up in all the good green and carbon issues and is heavily backed by Brussells - so it is here to stay. As these can only be produced by a qualified energy assessor, it is another segment of the property transaction.

Inspections and valuations (which were never mandatorily in the HIP anyway) can be returned to the previous status quo and done by property surveyors.

BUT, by returning these constituent parts to the various professional bodies, the internet HIP vendors have no place to go - if there is no demand for the HIP, their services should wither with it.

So what will I miss about the HIP? The one element not covered by the above is the Property Information questionnaire (PIQ), that asks most of the right questions and puts information into the open well before the survey would normally be done - therefore saving time and effort AND possibly money. A standardised format means the 'tricky' questions cannot be avoided and buyer / seller go into the transaction with a degree more information than has been done in the past. Here there is a natural role for the Estate Agent to play. they know the area and know how certain outcomes affect local prices - let them take ownership of provision of the PIQ.

So there you have it - if HIPs die off I will be happy. It should allow small practicioners like me to re-establish relationships with local agents and keep the internet panels well out of things.

Of course, first we need a new government.....