HIP provider OpenBook forced to close

Home information pack provider OpenBook has confirmed it will be winding down operations and shutting down the business at the end of this week.
OpenBook is the second HIP provider to meet its demise in the space of a fortnight following the news last week that Hipstar has been placed into administration.
OpenBook has until now touted [...]

Outdated HIP searches tackled by OneSearch Direct

OneSearch Direct has launched three new products to deal with the issue of out-of-date property searches originally included in HIPs.
The three products, Validate, OneSearch Now, and OneSearch have been developed in partnership with a number of conveyancing firms and link to data from OneSearch Direct’s database supplemented with bespoke insurances.
The new refresher searches provide revised [...]

NAEA calls for government HIP review

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) is urging the government to take action on Home Information Packs (HIPs).
Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the NAEA, said: “With the economic situation worsening and the property market still suffering, we are calling on the government to take urgent action on HIPs.
“We have long seen HIPs as [...]

Hipstar goes into administration

Hipstar, the Home Information Pack provider conceived by Network Data’s Richard Griffiths more than three years ago, has been placed into administration with the loss of 22 jobs, including chief executive Tim Jones.
At launch it claimed to have “developed leading edge technology to offer a streamlined solution for the ordering, production and delivery of our [...]

Prepare for EPCs, landlords reminded

Residential landlords have been warned to prepare for the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) which become law from 1 October.
Merseyside estate agent Venmore has reminded landlords that from October 1 tenants will be able to ask their landlord for an EPC, otherwise any attempt to sell or let a property without an EPC is [...]

HIPs delay hitting homebuyers

Political one-upmanship by the Government and opposition parties is preventing home information packs (HIPs) from being delivered in full, and letting down homebuyers, AHIPP says. The Association of HIP Providers claims HIPs have so far been successful in bringing down the cost of local authority searches, but says the product needs to be allowed to [...]

Promise reports HIP interest boost

Promise Homepacks has reported a 35% increase in new enquiries since the launch of its ‘No Sale No Fee’ option.
The Promise Homepacks No Sale No Fee or ‘HIP Expenses Guarantee’ facility enables the consumer to order a Home information pack on day one using the Promise Homepacks deferred payment option, providing the consumer with a [...]

A disaster: Estate Agent verdict on HIPs anniversary

HIPs have been a disaster and a hindrance to the homebuyer market, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) one year since their launch. Peter Bolton King, NAEA chief executive, says a debate still rages about whether the timing of the launch helped cripple an “already rocky” property industry.
However, he says housing minister [...]

No Hip, no fee Promise

Promise Homepacks is offering what it claims is a No Sale No Fee’ HIP and an integrated conveyancing option.
With the Promise Homepacks No Sale No Fee or ‘HIP Expenses guarantee’ facility, the consumer to order a Home Information Pack on day one using the Promise Homepacks deferred payment option, providing the consumer with a nine [...]

HIP provider shuts its doors

HIP Facilities Group and its subsidiary HIP Payment Services Limited are withdrawing from the market and will not be accepting any new business from 31 August.
HIP Payment Services will continue to service the needs of its customers, agents and HIP providers on any matters relating to existing loans for until each case is concluded and [...]