Government urged to develop LGA links

Speaking in the House of Commons, Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden and Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said the government needed to address the concerns of the LGA before rolling out HIPs, which included fee setting and access to property information.

However, Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning, said: “Officials have met on a regular basis with LGA representatives to discuss the implementation of the Office of Fair Tradings’ report ‘Property Searches – A Market Survey’, which made recommendations on fee setting and access to property information. Discussions with the LGA and other stakeholders will continue through the Conveyancing and Property Searches Working Group on which the LGA is represented. I’ve also met with LGA representatives to discuss progress in the context of HIPs, LGA and Communities and Local Government are working closely on the next steps.”

Paul Banfield, partner at Best Advice Financial Planning, said: “My feeling is that the public is still suspicious of HIPS. Broker’s won’t really be affected, but my concern is whether there will be some assurance that the surveyors used are above board, otherwise it will be very easy for vendors to influence reports.”

The government intends to roll out the amended HIP regulation on 29 March.