Karen Babington, director of sales and marketing at Easier2Move said: "Although we welcome certain of the CML's comments on Home Information Packs, particularly the call for a detailed implementation timetable, we do not support the view that they will greatly affect the flow of properties coming onto the market. The majority of consumers sell or buy a home for reasons unique to their situation and although HIPS may increase the cost of these transactions, we don't believe that they will halt them. Indeed, we feel that HIPS may actually encourage first-time buyers back into the market by moving the cost of gathering this information from buyer to seller.
"As a HIP provider, we understand the CML's concerns about Home Condition Reports (HCRs) but feel that rather than criticising the progress that has been made, they should be lobbying their members to ensure that robust HCRs are accepted by lenders sooner rather than later. HIPS are set to become reality and we all need to work together to ensure that their implementation is as painless as possible."
