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HIPS again
- Thread starter Nemesis
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Penners
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Me too, but this one's a double-header.Flyfisher said:Normally, I try very hard to see both sides of any decision.
D*ckhead on both sides.
Nemesis
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I think the intention at the very outset was quite an honourable one, to make buying a property easier, and cheaper for the buyer, it's just it sorta wasn't as simple to carry out as was at first hoped, and once in the hole 'they' failed to cease to dig.
Flyfisher
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Well, I suppose it's possible that the original intentions were honourable, but even if the HIP was implemented flawlessly I can't see how it would make buying a property easier or cheaper for the buyer. Caveat emptor is not only a common saying, it is fundamental common sense.
Anyway, the most expensive thing about buying a property these days is the iniquitous stamp duty/tax and I haven't noticed any 'honourable' attempts to reduce this cost of purchase.
Anyway, the most expensive thing about buying a property these days is the iniquitous stamp duty/tax and I haven't noticed any 'honourable' attempts to reduce this cost of purchase.
Nemesis
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It was supposed to allow the seller to have the survey (and searches and associated stuff, also have all guarantees and planning permissions available upfront) carried out so there were no nasty surprises after making an offer. It was supposed to speed the process and in theory was A Good Thing.
The problems started from there...
The problems started from there...
Penners
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I'm sorry, but when you're going to start political tinkerings with something as fundamental to our national economy as the housing market, 'honourable intentions' just ain't good enough. You've got to be 100% iron-clad certain that your proposals are fully thought through, workable, and will truly be of benefit.Nemesis said:I think the intention at the very outset was quite an honourable one
Half-baked, half-*rsed, fag-packet jottings just won't do.
Nemesis
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I think they were actually trialled in Bristol and the response was 'positive'... which means not a lot really.
Flyfisher
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If it was such A Good Thing how come that no smart sellers hadn't already thought of it and were actually using it to their advantage? I'm not aware of any law that would have prevented a 'HIP' being put together as a marketing aid. That it was not being done already is suggestive of the fact that it's not needed - at least not as a way of making house sales more efficient.Nemesis said:. . . and in theory was A Good Thing.
I liked Penners description and would add that the best way of making things more efficient, which is A Good Thing, is to generally reduce the level of interfering regulation and let people work things out for themselves.
Nemesis
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I think until recently many still thought it potentially A Good Thing - I recall Stephen posting here (who has ben involved with it) saying he thought it could be.
There was some clamour I recall to make house buying simpler, as so many sales fell though after a considerable amount of cash had been spent by a potential purchaser on surveys etc.
I can see that aspects of a HIPS being made compulsory such as having to have all the ownership and guarantees etc documentation in place could be useful. Yes it can be done on a voluntary basis but voluntary means many won't.
Unfortunately the survey idea came a cropper as in reality few would rely on it. Also searches go quickly out of date and house selling can be a slow process.
The one thing which I think will remain is the energy cert, which for a period building is probably not going to be a major selling point.
There was some clamour I recall to make house buying simpler, as so many sales fell though after a considerable amount of cash had been spent by a potential purchaser on surveys etc.
I can see that aspects of a HIPS being made compulsory such as having to have all the ownership and guarantees etc documentation in place could be useful. Yes it can be done on a voluntary basis but voluntary means many won't.
Unfortunately the survey idea came a cropper as in reality few would rely on it. Also searches go quickly out of date and house selling can be a slow process.
The one thing which I think will remain is the energy cert, which for a period building is probably not going to be a major selling point.
Penners
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But surely that system has benefits. If the potential purchaser is going to have to lay out cash for a survey, searches and so on, this musters against people making trivial, uncommitted offers.Nemesis said:Imany sales fell though after a considerable amount of cash had been spent by a potential purchaser on surveys etc.
Nemesis
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I'm not defending HIPS - merely pointing out why at the outset many thought they would help speed up the whole process and simplify it.
The current system isn't perfect either. I doubt any could be.
The current system isn't perfect either. I doubt any could be.
Penners
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Absolutely right. And I would be in favour of any change to the system that represented a real improvement. I just think HIPS ain't it.Nemesis said:The current system isn't perfect either. I doubt any could be.