News & Events

For All Code Compliance Officers

The next Codes Workshop, organised by AHIPP, PCCB and CoPSO, is scheduled to take place on Thursday 18 March 2010 in the International Room at the offices of the Institute of Directors in Leeds (3 Albion Place, Leeds, LS1 6JL). The IoD is situated in the heart of the city, ten minutes walk from Leeds mainline station.  read more »

The Residential Property Surveyors Association will be holding the following regional meetings in March to present to potential members.

Leeds Thursday 18th March at 3.30 pm in the International Room at 3, Albion Place, Leeds LS1 6JL  read more »

A shake-up in how homes are sold, including updating legislation to allow new entrants into the market, could lead to a better deal for house buyers and sellers, the OFT said today.  read more »

New figures from leading conveyancer myhomemove, out today, reveal that failed property transactions have dipped into single figures since HIPs took full effect in April last year.  read more »

- Independent assessment by Property Codes Compliance Board
- Results clearly demonstrate no difference in accuracy or completeness
- Personal Searches have more ‘additional information’  read more »

A new representative body that has been established by the Federation of Property Information Providers (FPIP) called the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA). This body has been established to represent Home Inspectors, be they qualified or partly qualified (regardless of when they may have commenced or discontinued training).  read more »

AHIPP is today calling on the Office of Fair Trading to crack down on agents flouting the HIP regulations. In recent weeks there has been a worrying trend in properties being listed without a HIP, particularly in London.  read more »

New research shows what British consumers really think of Home Information Packs

New research out today reveals the majority of Home Information Pack consumers are satisfied with the delivery of their HIP, with further findings demonstrating the ease with which they were completed and support for the provision of up front information in the home buying process.  read more »

Mike Ockenden recently took part in the Radio 4 programme 'You and Yours'. Please click on the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/items/03/2009_38_thu.shtml

The last Codes workshop of 2009 hosted by AHIPP, CoPSO and the PCCB was held on 26th November. Dates and venues for 2010 are being finalised but further details will be available shortly.

You can view the presentation from this workshop by clicking on the attachment below.

A new body has been formed to represent the property information providing industry. The Federation of Property Information Providers (FPIP) brings together the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) and the Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) under one umbrella, recognising the increasing prominence of the role of these industries in serving consumers.  read more »

Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps’s statement that “half of HIPs money is wasted” is simply inaccurate.  read more »

Mike Ockenden, Director General, Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP), responds to new research into the flouting of HIP regulations:  read more »

Ashley King, Chairman of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP), welcomes the latest news from Connells that it is turning HIPs around in a day:

“This latest news from Connells expounding its 24 hour HIP is testament to the fact that if you choose the right pack provider and the right agent, there is absolutely no reason for the HIP to delay a sale.  read more »

Mike Ockenden, Director General, Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP), suggests that the Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps has been misinformed by those who say Home Information Packs (HIPS) have had an adverse effect on the market:  read more »

Ashley King, Chairman of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP), comments on HIP prices charged by estate agents to their clients:  read more »

Mike Ockenden, Director General, Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) responds to Grant Shapps’ endorsement of the exchange-ready pack (ERP) as a ‘great idea’:  read more »

Please click on link below to see the BBC Watchdog programme warning consumers about using HIP providers who are not HIP Code subscribers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3bumfapfc8

Over two thirds of industry professionals voted in favour of adapting rather than scrapping the much debated Home Information Pack (HIP) at the Land Data Great Housing Market Debate, hosted by The Wriglesworth Consultancy, earlier this week.  read more »

AHIPP, CoPSO and the PCCB will be hosting the next regional workshop for all code Compliance Officers on Thursday 14th May at the Avon Gorge Hotel in Bristol.

Delegates that haven’t attended a Workshop before -  read more »

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) is calling on Government to take immediate action against Zoopla, which is flouting laws surrounding the provision of Home Information Packs (HIPS) and allowing sellers to market their homes, without the required HIP in place.  read more »

HIP CODE COMPLIANT PACKS MUST BE TOP PRIORITY FOR AGENTS

With the 6th April legislative changes in place, it is now imperative that agents select a HIP provider that subscribes to the HIP Code to ensure they receive quality, compliant packs and do not leave themselves liable to fines or legal action, warns the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP).  read more »

Mike Ockenden, Director General of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP), comments on the Tories’ confirmation that they will scrap HIPs and move the EPC to the end of the house buying process:  read more »

From 6th April this year, every home must have a HIP in place – not just ordered - before it can be put on the market. Further, vendors will now also be required to complete a new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) detailing important pre-sale information such as the home’s council tax band, parking arrangements, utilities and any structural alterations.  read more »

From 6th April this year, every home must have a HIP in place – not just ordered - before it can be put on the market. Vendors will also now be required to complete a new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) detailing important pre-sale information such as the home’s council tax band, parking arrangements, utilities and any structural alterations – vital when deciding to make an offer.  read more »

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has announced the appointment of new Chairman, Ashley King, who will be taking over the role from Tom Parker, Managing Director of Quest Associates.  read more »

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) announced today that it will implement an updated version of the HIP Code on 6th April 2009. This revision is timed to coincide with the expiry of the transitional arrangements on the same day. The revision is based on feedback from a variety of stakeholders and is designed to extend the protection the code provides to consumers.  read more »

The following is a link to the regulations that were laid in parliament on 21st January in respect of the PIQ:
The Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2009 No. 34
Further information can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/buyingselling/homeinformation/

AHIPP and CoPSO will be hosting regional workshops and all code Compliance Officers are invited to attend.
The workshops will be free and priority will be given to firms that have already registered under the Codes.
The proposed dates for 2009 are:-
Thursday 14th May - Bristol
Thursday 10th September - Birmingham
Thursday 19th November - tbc  read more »

Please click on the following links to view the statement and press release given by the Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett MP on 8th December 2008.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/statements/corporate/homebuyingandselling
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1091058