HIPs irrelevant for majority of buyers

In its annual report, the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) confirmed just 40% of buyers had seen the HIP for the property they were buying. Margaret Beckett, the Housing Minister, admitted the packs were not performing as hoped, stating: "I fully accept that they [HIPs] are perhaps not the perfect vehicle one might wish to see." Beckett also admitted she was concerned that with the housing market so stagnant, the information within the packs may become out of date. The DCLG Committee, responding to the report, said the failure of HIPs demonstrated the department's i...