Isle of Wight Homes News Blog covering Property, HIPS and general chit-chat

	29 January 2007 17:56

My father in law died this morning at 11.30 am. He went into his garden that he loved, to do a bit of raking & just dropped dead. My own father died some 20 years ago & I realize now I had got used to passing the time of day with George, not saying anything of consequence but just enjoying his company. George Drake was a very honest generous man – we will all miss him greatly Simon Broadhead
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Latest press release from our Association

29 January 2007 10:03

HIPS 26.01.07
Hot off the press is the announcement and consultation from DCLG issued on Wednesday. As I was in London I was able to attend the briefing session.

The new consultation yet again shows that the Government see HIPs as a way to tackle climate change and promote energy efficiency by proposing estate agents must include Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) with their property particulars for the first time. This immediately causes a lot of obvious concern and potential problems and we will fight this.

To increase awareness of the benefits of undertaking environmental improvements, the Government is also proposing to make the EPC the first document in the Home Information Pack when launched on 1st June. The introduction of the EPCs has been given added urgency following the recent publication of the Stern report into climate change.

The Government also included comments on the base line assessment carried out last year. Their conclusion does however raise more questions than it answers and we will be studying this in depth before responding.

In addition as a result of preliminary findings from the “dry run”, the consultation also sets a number of proposed changes to the draft regulations. The main changes are as follows.

The Government at long last realises that what we have been saying about the lack of Local Authorities’ readiness and leasehold information is true. They will be issuing new guidance to local authorities on providing prompt access to all search information; speeding up the process and setting charges that are fair to consumers. The area trials have shown that obtaining searches and leasehold documents can cause delays of four weeks or more in producing packs.

While action on searches is being implemented, there will be transitional measures to ensure the smooth implementation of HIPs in June. Sellers will be able, for an initial transitional period, to market their home as soon as an EPC, Sellers Form and the Land Registry document are provided as long as searches and leasehold documents (where relevant) have been commissioned. These transitional arrangements will be reviewed after six months to see whether they are still needed.

Whereas before properties marketed before 1st June with no HIP would not need one until end October 07, it is now suggested that this period should be extended to the end March 08

Originally it had been proposed that if a property was withdrawn for more than 28 days then an updated HIP would be required. It is now suggested that the pack will be valid for a period of one year from the original date providing if a property is re-offered for sale it is by the same seller.

An interim EPC will be required for “off plan” or partially built properties.

Where relevant, flood and ground stability searches will be required in packs as soon as systems are available to enable pack providers to find out quickly and cheaply whether a property is in an "at risk" area. The Government says this will give buyers key information without putting sellers to the expense of providing extra searches in areas in which these are not relevant.

The fines for estate agents who fail to produce Home Information Packs (including Energy Performance Certificates) will be reviewed in the light of experience from June 1 and could be raised from £200 to £500 if they fail to meet their commitments. I have already queried why this relates solely to estate agents and not to private sellers.

The full consultation documents are available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1505731

The MORI baseline research is at www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1505732

The consultation ends on 21 February

Obviously it is very pleasing that, at long last, the Government is beginning to realise that we are right in what we have been saying. However, many will argue that HIPs are now in an even bigger mess than they were before and we certainly still do not have first day marketing.

Clearly once we have studied the new consultation in depth we will be issuing a full statement. In the meantime, the NAEA “holding” press release can be seen at

http://www.naea.co.uk/about/latest_news_details.asp?id=302&PageNo=1

E Petition

The number of signatures on the NAEA President’s petition calling for HIPs to be abandoned continues to grow every day. Currently we are now over 4,500 and it lies 16th out of the 2295 Petitions in terms of signatures. I know that a number of members have forwarded the link to staff, clients and friends and others have ensured that the link has gone into their own office advertising and in local papers.

To remind you it can be found at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/repealofHIPs/

Parliamentary Question

The following question was asked in the Commons this week and members may be interested to not the amounts!

Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total expected public expenditure is on payments to (a) PA Consulting Group and (b) Xansa UK Ltd in relation to home information packs. [103884]

Yvette Cooper:
PA Consulting Group have been used across a wide range of activities associated with the delivery of HIPs, primarily on the design and procurement of the HCR Register, the Certification Scheme, the Dry Run and the area trials. We anticipate that a total of £2.5 million will be paid to PA Consulting.
The payment to Xansa has been £69,000. No further payments are anticipated.

HC Deb 24 January 2007 c1895

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Latest press release from splinta	29 January 2007 10:00

Dear Supporters 25.01.07 The expected announcement on HIPs came today in the form of a 'consultation document' from the DCLG. The consultation paper can be downloaded at the bottom of: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1505731 They have also published the 'baseline' study into the housing market. Download the documents here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1505732 'Consultation' may be interpreted as 'Negotiation'. Ministers and civil servants will deny it but there is no doubt that the alterations that have been made today to the proposal show there is a probability of further changes before the revised Regulations are laid. In particular there is no justification for the requirement to have what remains of the HIP in place before marketing can commence. DCLG has recognised that delays in obtaining Searches and leasehold property information will impede the production of a full HIP. There will therefore be a transitional period to April 2008 when marketing will be allowed immediately if the Energy Performance Certificate, sale statement, evidence of title and HIP index are available together with evidence that remaining required but missing documents have been commissioned. This does not go as far as we want but is a step in the right direction. Why not allow ALL the documentation to be compiled during the marketing process? The implementation date is still set as June 1st 2007 but the 'long stop' date by which all properties on the market, whether put on before June 1st or not, must have a HIP has been moved from October 2007 to March 2008. We see this as a clear indication that DCLG is worried about a lack of energy inspectors and a potential for a glut of properties on the market pre-June followed by what would have been a dearth in October. It had been the case that properties with a HIP but taken off the market for 28 days or more would need a new HIP. That has altered and a new HIP will not be needed for up to 1 year following withdrawal from the market so long as it remains the same seller. Personal searches covered by insurance will be allowed during the transitional period. The penalty for estate agents marketing without a pack will increase to £500 leaving private sellers with a £200 fine. There is no word on OFT banning orders - but you can count on them being introduced. You may wish to note that yet again DCLG is being cavalier in its treatment of this announcement. There are just four weeks for the consultation - when the best practice guidelines call for a minimum of 12 weeks. There are some unbelievably crass statements contained in both the consultation and in the results of the baseline study. More on these and the detailed response in the next few days. After that we shall ask for your own comments to include in our response to DCLG. For now, happy reading... Nick Salmon FNAEA (Honoured) www.splintacampaign.co.uk
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This time last week	29 January 2007 08:55

This time last week I showed several people around several un-heated properties & got really frozen! This week its 8C outside – lovely & warm Simon
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How to save some money	23 January 2007 09:26

Just off to a meeting in Ventnor with one of these “HIP providers”. It’s going to cost a lot more money for anyone to sell their property after June 2007, when HIP's are imposed. If you are thinking of selling on the Island please do contact us today, so you can get on our books before this deadline, you then wont then need the pack for four months. From October 2007 all houses must have the pack. Simon
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Thursday Power Cut	18 January 2007 10:21

We have had our first major power cut at 10.15 a.m. We have back up systems that’s why we can type this, you can still contact us by phone on 01983 721831 - but to reduce power we will only collecting e-mails on an hourly basis. Simon Now all back on at 10.45 a.m.!
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Home Information Packs (HIPs) - Press release from SPLINTA	17 January 2007 16:14

Thought you might want to see the latest press release Simon Good Afternoon, Charles Smailes, President of the NAEA has lodged a petition on the No 10 Downing Street website, calling for the repeal of HIPs. Follow the link below. The process is extremely quick and easy and you immediately receive a confirming email from No 10 on which you simply click a link to confirm your vote. PLEASE ACTION THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND PASS THE LINK TO YOUR CONTACTS FOR THEM TO TAKE PART. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/repealofHIPs/ Secondly, I was at the Council meeting of the NAEA today. Past President, Trevor Kent, a long time campaigner against HIPs and a supporter of SPLINTA had a proposition accepted in Council that the NAEA should immediately instigate a crisis meeting with other associations, organisations, representative bodies and influential individuals in the property sale, conveyancing, surveying and financing industries. That meeting shall, if felt appropriate, draw to the government's attention by way of delegation to No 10 Downing Street, the disaster about to fall upon the housing market and the wider economy should HIPs be introduced as currently scheduled. SPLINTA is of course willing to fully support the NAEA in this meeting and will put forward a wide range of delegates from the groups represented by our campaign. (You may also be interested to hear that at the meeting it was agreed that ARLA will merge with the NAEA.) With the latest rise in interest rates - and more to come (?) - the property market may be on shakier ground in the coming months. In the face of this, would the government be foolish enough to press ahead with such a destabilising measure as HIPs? We can't be certain, but certainly would not recommend the immediate purchase of shares in HIP providing companies... Nick Salmon FNAEA (Honoured) 07831 805455 www.splintacampaign.co.uk
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Estate Agency Contracts	13 January 2007 13:07

We have just got back from seeing a property on the Island in the Sandown area – the owners told us the Agent had tied them in with a Sole Agency agreement of 6 months! (& then give 2 weeks notice). They have been waiting to get out of the contract ever since they signed it, & didn't get one viewing, needless to say the agency isn’t a member of the NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents). I think its despicable to have such contracts – the only one who benefits is always the agent! We never tie anyone in with long-term contracts, we ask for 10 days notice so we can take off all the advertising & delete the property from all the websites we upload to. Really must go, we are still really busy this week with a lot of completions going through & viewings have really taken off – I can hear we have 2 people offering on the same property as I type! – What a start to the year. Simon
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Brilliant sunshine	10 January 2007 14:57

I took some really smashing pictures of a house in Brading yesterday & have been working on them this morning – (It wont be live for a few days) - & just got back from seeing some lovely ex-clients in St Lawrence where the sun was really intense – amazing how much better you feel when it isn’t foggy or raining. Simon
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Viewings this year - 2007	09 January 2007 09:54

Traditionally at this time of the year people are just getting over Christmas & the New Year – the thought of buying houses is not in most peoples heads, this year is very different, we have had an awful lot of viewings booked since the New Year. Over Christmas a lot of our clients have been bombarded by mail drops from other agents – most of which are not in the National Association of Estate Agents! We went to a couple of houses where we had FOR SALE boards outside, & they had four mail drops apiece! When we were on the mainland for 5 years we used to have dozens & dozens of agent mail drops & always put them in the bin, together with most of the sale details sent that were inappropriate. All the mail drops (that the royal mail encourage) really annoy me, such a waste of paper. The Internet is such a wonderful means of sending the full details of a house to people - instantly. We have built up such a database over the last 8 years, I send out several thousand e-mails a week all tailored specifically for that client. If you are on our mailing list & ever receive an e-mail that is not in the right area of the Island or over/under your price range please advise us & we will make the amendments. If you want to be on our mailing list click on the link below http://www.isleofwighthomes.com/contactus.aspx Have a good day Simon
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3rd January 2007	03 January 2007 09:11

We all got back to work yesterday, a very busy day – haven’t much time now! Hope you all had a good break Simon
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