AHIPPs confirmed its intentions to continue its HIPs rollout, despite a government u-turn on the mandatory need for a HCR within the HIP. Following the government’s announcement, a number of HIP providers, including property website, Rightmove, withdrew from the HIP market. However, AHIPPs confirmed it would be rolling out its HIP and HCR across six English destinations, including Southampton and Newcastle from 6 November 2006, in anticipation of the June 2007 deadline for the implementation of HIPs.
However, the decision to roll out the propositions has been met with some surprise. Ray Boulger, senior technical manager at John Charcol, said: “AHIPPs doesn’t appear to be aware of that well known saying, ‘when you are in a hole, stop digging’. I note it commented: ‘Once consumers are introduced to packs and realise their worth, we are confident that there will be a huge demand’, which I presume means they expect the take-up in the six trial locations to be well in excess of 50 per cent of all sellers.
“Would AHIPPs care to share with us what percentage of sellers in these locations they expect to voluntarily buy a HIP and how long the trial will run for? We will all then be able to judge at the end of the trial period just how huge the demand has been.”
Mike Ockenden, director-general at AHIPPs, said: “Our roll out is just that. It is not a trial and will continue right through to the official HIPs launch date of June 2007. It is very difficult to predict the penetration of the information packs, although it is fair to say that consumer awareness needs improving. We expect take-up to be different in the different locations.”
