Would an optional survey make HIPs useful?

jimc_2

The original Government HIPs trials (over a year ago now!) included the HCR (Home Condition Report - a form of Survey) and both buyers and sellers commented favourably on their inclusion. The buyers loved it that there was a survey they could refer to when viewing the property and the sellers said it greatly helped their viewings as they could refer to the positive points. It also helped them to say that certain survey points were already included in the valuation so it stopped haggling at the traditional survey stage (where most sales fall through!).

Both buyers and sellers agreed it was a 'good thing' Typically it was dropped from requirements. It remains optional.

Does anyone have experience of sales since HIPs where the seller has also invested in a HCR and what effect did it have? Has it completely died? Were you involved in the trials as a buyer or seller? What do you think?

(Before the accusations start, I have NO commercial interest in this whatsoever. I'm just interested in whether the ministers involved backed down to pressure too soon and should have held their ground.)

Jorgan_2

One of the reasons it was made optional was due to buyers saying they wouldn't accept the a survey provided by a seller. None of my vendors have opted for the option of the HCR, most of them baulk at the idea.

A question that should be asked is what has happened to the information obtained in the trial? The government spent four million pounds of tax payers money and have yet to produce any information from the trials.

Generali

If I was buying I'd want to comission my own survey - caveat emptor and all that.

jimc_2

Generali wrote: »

If I was buying I'd want to comission my own survey - caveat emptor and all that.

But if the Survey is carried out by qualified professional covered by professional indemnity insurance and imposed standards such as a member of RICS it surely doesn't matter who commissions it. To say that it does, simply accuses some surveyors of not telling the truth and I'm sure the RICS don't like that.

My feeling is that this is simply a kneejerk reaction from people not involved . As I said in the original post, buyers on Tyneside said it helped them view the property better and to be able to make up their mind faster.

Jorgan_2

It would be a nightmare for the surveyors indemnity insurance. Who is the client, the buyer or seller? The seller may commission the survey, but it would be the buyer potentially making a claim at some time in the future.

Generali

jimc wrote: »

But if the Survey is carried out by qualified professional covered by professional indemnity insurance and imposed standards such as a member of RICS it surely doesn't matter who commissions it. To say that it does, simply accuses some surveyors of not telling the truth and I'm sure the RICS don't like that.

My feeling is that this is simply a kneejerk reaction from people not involved . As I said in the original post, buyers on Tyneside said it helped them view the property better and to be able to make up their mind faster.

TBH, I don't care. If I'm buying I want to know exactly what's going on and to minimise the chance of being stitched up. How do I know that the survey hasn't been done by Uncle Brian for a couple of pints and a bottle of something nice?

I want to comission someone myself so I can sue their sorry bottom if anything goes wrong.

Suzy_M

If I were buying I would always commission my own survey BUT if I were selling I'd seriously consider getting one to ease and/or subsequently speed the process (cut out time-wasters, nit-pickers, last penny hagglers etc).

Generali

I guess as a seller it could be worth having a survey done so you can negotiate from a stronger position. It would have to be a pretty small fraction of the selling price though.

chriserenity

Just so we're clear i'm not a Home Inspector (HIs), I'm a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). That means I'm licenced to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) but not Home Condition Reports (HCRs).

Regarding the HCR I can tell you that home inspection is a regulated industry with proper redress procedures and rules in place governing the conduct of HIs much like the rules we DEAs have to follow. The report a HI produces is not influenced by the vendor or buyer, it is independent. As are the searches in the HIP. Search insurance covers all parties involved including the buyer and their conveyancer which is why they are accepted.

If the HCR were made mandatory all the DEAs would have to either retrain as HIs or leave the industry including me. Therefore industry feeling about the HCR is mixed.

I agree that the government should release the information from the trials into the public domain.

Generali

chriserenity wrote: »

Just so we're clear i'm not a Home Inspector (HIs), I'm a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). That means I'm licenced to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) but not Home Condition Reports (HCRs).

Regarding the HCR I can tell you that home inspection is a regulated industry with proper redress procedures and rules in place governing the conduct of HIs much like the rules we DEAs have to follow. The report a HI produces is not influenced by the vendor or buyer, it is independent. As are the searches in the HIP. Search insurance covers all parties involved including the buyer and their conveyancer which is why they are accepted.

If the HCR were made mandatory all the DEAs would have to either retrain as HIs or leave the industry including me. Therefore industry feeling about the HCR is mixed.

I agree that the government should release the information from the trials into the public domain.

Just out of interest, what qualifies you to be a DEA?

chriserenity

Generali wrote: »

Just out of interest, what qualifies you to be a DEA?

Feel free to check the authenticity of my qualification by searching for me on the Landmark Database of accredited Domestic Energy Assessors:

https://www.hcrregister.com/FindAssessorInspector

I'm Chris Lane (the one in Doncaster, not the one down south :rotfl:)

And to answer your question more literally my Accreditation was granted by Elmhurst Energy Systems who have quite a tenure in the energy assessment business www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk