04 March 2009

NAEA CALLS ON BECKETT TO SUSPEND HIPS

 
Following the publication of the Communities and Local Government Committee’s Annual Report, Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, said:
 
“Once again a fair and rational examination of Home Information Packs has concluded that the system as it stands is simply not working.
 
“Firstly the cost is punishing sellers in the pocket at a time when they really need all the help that they can.
 
“More galling, they are spending this money in the knowledge that 77 per cent of buyers admit that they paid no attention to the pack whatsoever.
 
“Margaret Beckett herself admitted that HIPs are not working – but now she seems to have buried her head in the sand along with the rest of her department. HIPs are confusing to customers and act as a dampener on a housing market which is essential to Britain’s economic recovery.
 
“With all indicators pointing to a troubled year ahead the NAEA calls on Mrs Beckett to suspend HIPs while the housing market is suffering and re-examine their viability once the market has begun to pick up.”
 

Editor Notes

 
About the NAEA

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), the residential sales arm of the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP), is the UK’s leading professional body for estate agency personnel, representing the interests of around 10,000 members who practice across all aspects of property services both in the UK and overseas. These include residential and commercial sales and lettings, property management, business transfer, auctioneering and land.

The National Association of Estate Agents is dedicated to the goal of professionalism within all aspects of property, estate agency and land. Its aim is to reassure the general public that by appointing an NAEA member to represent them they will receive in return the highest level of integrity and service in both sales and lettings, for all property matters. Each NAEA member is bound by a vigorously enforced Code of Practice and adheres to professional Rules of Conduct. Failure to do so can result in heavy financial penalties and possible expulsion from the Association.
 

Contacts

 
For further information contact:
 
NFOPP PRESS OFFICE
 
Tel: 020 3128 8181
E-mail: press@nfoppmedia.com