house surveys

1d2a3d4d5i6o

Hi all I have just received a letter off the local estate agent saying that under the housing act this new survey that the government talked about is coming into force in April 2007 is this true? This is the biggest rip off to date seeing that the survey will need updating every 6 months it could cost you a small fortune and is no guarantee to sell your house.

If so-- I have an answer, on your sale board, delete for sale and insert 'thinking of selling enquire' this will enable you to put off the survey until you know you have a serious buyer

any comments and not from estate agents or surveyors :money: :money:

advent1122

1d2a3d4d5i6o wrote:

any comments and not from estate agents or surveyors :money: :money:

I would have thought they would be the best people to comment

BobProperty

I think you are referring to HIPs which I think come in slightly later like June/July 2007.
You have highlighted one of several drawbacks of HIPs.
You can't do what you are suggesting without risking getting into trouble. I think the law will refer to "marketing" so any sign board is covered.

courtjester

Yes - the Housing Bill is the legislation under which the Home Information Packs or HIPS will be introduced.

Either you or the estate agent are confused however.

The date of compulsory introduction of packs for all property sold in England & Wales is June 2007, not April.

The property /building survey is NOT part of the pack - this will remain separate and arranged by thebuyer or their mortgage lender as per the current situation. The only survey required will be for an Energy Certificate.

Under the new law, you will be committing an offence if you advertise a property for sale anywhere without the pack in place, I believe the fine proposed is something like £1-200 per day for everyday that the property is marketed without a legal pack. In practice, it remains to be seen whether many people are in fact prosecuted, as there is no mechanism in place to monitor activity - it is supposed to be Trading Standards who will be responsible, but of course, no extra resources are being made available for them to take on thie extra duty...

The likelihood is that this will be self-managing as buyers will be entitled to see the HIP at the time of viewing and hence will not consider property marekted without.