Hips 'could be useful for first-time buyers'

03-Dec-2009

House hunters, including first-time buyers, may find home information packs (Hips) useful, it has been suggested.

According to Mike Ockenden, director general of the Association of Home Information Packs Providers, 65 per cent of respondents to an Ipsos MORI survey said they found the contents helpful.

He interpreted this as meaning that those involved in the process stand to gain from the packs, despite recent reports in the media espoused by the Conservative party that criticised Hips.

Furthermore, 30 per cent of people said they had implemented one of the recommendations in the energy performance certificate.

Mr Ockenden commented: "That to me says that Hips are actually helping to reduce carbon emissions.

"Consumers like packs and they are helping to reduce CO2."

Mr Ockenden went on to note that many of the costs included in the packs are not new. For example, he pointed out that the price of the land registry would have to be procured with or without Hips.

In this way, he said, the Conservatives - who claimed in a Telegraph article that Hips have raised £94 million for the government - are misleading the public by saying the packs cost consumers millions.

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