Land Data Welcomes Housing Minister's Statement on HIPs

LAND DATA WELCOMES HOUSING MINISTER’S STATEMENT ON HOME INFORMATION PACKS

9th December 2008

Land Data welcomes yesterday’s statement by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett, regarding it as a positive move which will provide benefits to the consumer.

The statement announced changes which will come into effect on 6th April 2009, these include the end of the transitional arrangements covering first day marketing, the removal of the insurance provision, which allows personal search companies to use insurance to cover any gaps in their property search information and the introduction of a Property Information Questionnaire.

From this date Home Information Packs will now have to be in place before a home is marketed for sale. With the average time for an electronic Local Authority search taking just 4 days, buyers will have the land and property search information they need upfront before making a purchasing decision.

Ensuring that both private search providers and Local Authority providers have equal access to the data not only removes the need for insurance cover, but means the provider's focus can be on giving consumers an optimum property search service at the lowest possible cost.
Land Data CEO Alex Fraser commented: “Yesterday’s announcement will, in conjunction with the proposed new local authority charging regulations, significantly improve the home buying/selling experience for the consumer. Once these provisions take effect and Local Authorities set fees for access to information on a cost recovery basis, consumers can be sure they are paying a fair and transparent price for their search and receive data from an authoritative source in return.”

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For further information please contact:
Fiona BarronJustin Scott at Land Data
Tel: 07770 855337 / 020 3043 8875
Email:fiona.barron@land-data.org.uk /justin.scott@land-data.org.uk
www.land-data.org.uk

Notes to Editors
Land Data manages NLIS, which was set up to support local authorities (LAs) and other property information holders in England and Wales in their move from manual to electronic provision of property information services. Through the NLIS hub, users can access information from 410 Local Authorities, national parks, Land Registry, the Coal Authority and water companies, in an electronic format. Land Data became a Community Interest Company in January 2006 in recognition of its commitment to making electronic property search information accessible to the general public and thereby improving the home buying process.