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Home information packs

Tuesday 11 March 2008

Searches: clients urged to use a solicitor

The Society is warning home sellers and buyers to be vigilant in preparing a HIP, after the government raised the alarm that some rogue HIP providers are putting the wrong documents in the packs.
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Advice for solicitors on searches

In light of the issues arising around HIPs and searches, we are preparing a practice note to advise practitioners on good practice. This will be published shortly.

Contents

Society to champion solicitors for HIPs

The Law Society is launching a media campaign aimed at consumers to reinforce the message that it is best to use a solicitor when creating a HIP. This is aimed to coincide with a major press advertising push later this month by Communities and Local Government (CLG) on sellers' legal obligations to provide HIPs.

The Society will target consumer and regional media (prime targets) to reach sellers who might be thinking of using a non-solicitor HIP provider, to inform them of the benefits of using a solicitor to ensure that their HIP is compliant with the conveyancing process.

Helping you market your own services

If you are not already marketing your HIPs service to clients and local agents, now is the time to do so. Our online survey last year showed that solicitors were receiving most of their HIPs instructions from existing clients and from estate agents with whom they had set up a link to provide HIPs.

The Law Society currently offers four HIPs packages, including two online packages geared towards quick production and completion. We are also producing a HIPs consumer guide as part of our consumer targeted campaign.

HIPs handling guide – version 4

21 December 2007
The Law Society Property Section has released version four of its Handling HIPs booklet, following the government's recent announcement that Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates would be rolled out to the rest of the market from 14 December 2007.
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The Law Society's online HIP

Our online HIP is a simple, effective solution designed to meet the needs of our members, estate agents and home sellers. It is:

  • guaranteed to be compliant with HIP legislation
  • competitively priced, with a deferred payment option available
  • easy-to-use web-based system, with training and support provided
  • all-inclusive, providing access to domestic energy assessors and home inspectors
  • incorporates the Law Society’s industry-leading TransAction forms
  • can be co-branded with the Law Society logo, providing reassurance for your clients and the buyer's solicitor

You can now register for the Law Society's online HIP from a choice of two providers: Jordans and Searchflow. There are no registration or set-up fees, and no ongoing costs. You will only be charged on a per pack basis.

Read more about the Law Society's online HIP (PDF, 452kb)

Jordans

Visit www.jordansproperty.co.uk to register your interest with Jordans and complete the online form.

Read more about the Jordans HIP (PDF, 935kb)

Searchflow

To register with Searchflow complete the registration pack and return it to the address shown on the form. Be sure to also complete and return the Direct Debit form which is included, as not doing so may delay your registration.

Download the registration pack (PDF, 189kb)

Technical requirements for the Law Society's online HIP

The Law Society online HIP is web-based and simple to use – you won't need any special software. You'll see all the HIPs you are currently working with and their status on your screen and the system will guide you through each step of producing a HIP. You'll receive training in the use of the system, and have access to support.

View a PowerPoint presentation outlining how the system works.

To use the Law Society online HIP you will need a PC with the following minimum specification:

  • 1Mb broadband or corporate internet connection
  • 256Mb memory (RAM)
  • Adobe Acrobat reader – download the software
  • Java Virtual Machine – download the software
  • Multi-page scanner – optional – you can post or fax documents instead

Further information

Law Society online HIP - information leaflet (PDF, 46kb)
Benefits for estate agents and their clients (PDF, 90kb)

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The Law Society bureau HIP

Use this service to order key HIP components from OyezStraker or StatPlus, trusted suppliers of business services, office products and HIPs to the legal profession.

Place your order for the Energy Performance Certificate, searches, title documents and more, by phone, fax or e-mail. Your ordered components are available in an electronic format and once ready, a hard copy will be couriered to you with a high-quality Law Society branded binder.

Request a free, no obligation welcome pack which contains everything you need to begin using the service by calling 08454 568713 or e-mail support@lawsocietybureauhip.co.uk.

Visit www.lawsocietybureauhip.co.uk to find out more.

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The Law Society starter kit

If you're preparing HIPs in-house, the Law Society's starter kit provides an ideal solution for presenting the finished pack.

You will receive a professional looking Law Society branded binder in which to assemble your HIP components together with guidelines on compiling a HIP that meets the Law Society's requirements. You can also order any of our industry-standard TransAction forms.

Request a free, no obligation welcome pack which contains everything you need to begin ordering starter kits, by calling 08454 568713 or e-mail support@lawsocietybureauhip.co.uk

Visit www.lawsocietybureauhip.co.uk to find out more.

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Conveyancing Handbook – 14th edition

This year's edition of the Conveyancing Handbook has been thoroughly revised to reflect the new rules of the Solicitors' Code of Conduct 2007.
Read more

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Government must address implementation problems

Law Society vice president Paul Marsh met Housing Minister Yvette Cooper on 10 September to express his continuing concern about a number of important issues relating to the implementation of the HIPs programme.

He reiterated his concern about the burden being placed on solicitors acting for buyers and lenders by the cavalier use of inadequate personal searches by some HIP providers. He also warned that HIPs could skew the conveyancing market and could encourage the improper use of referral fees, possibly creating a lack of transparency and choice for consumers.

The meeting took place on the day HIPs were extended to include three bedroom homes which means that HIPs are now required for about 60 per cent of the residential market. Mr Marsh also presented the results of our online survey.

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Related property events

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Forms

TransAction forms revised

New Law Society TransAction forms will be available from 1 August 2007. This suite of industry standard forms, widely accepted by the profession, has been expanded and adapted to comply with the HIPs regulations and may be used to prepare HIPs.
Read more and see the forms

CON29 forms revised

From 1 August 2007, the CON29 forms of standard and optional enquiries of local authority, and the CON 29DW form of standard drainage and water enquiries, will be replaced by new forms.
Read more

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Marketing HIPs

The Law Society is currently conducting marketing activities to solicitors and estate agents to raise the profile of the Law Society online HIP. We are stressing the importance to estate agents of working with a qualified, regulated, reliable HIP partner - ie solicitors.

To aid solicitors in their endeavours to market their HIP provision services to estate agents and their own clients, we are pleased to provide the following materials. The documents below comprise the first round of materials of the Law Society online HIP Marketing Toolkit:

Check back soon, as materials will be developed and uploaded here on a regular basis.

If you have any questions regarding the toolkit:

E-mail: marketing@lawsociety.org.uk
Tel: 020 7841 5470

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Estate agents

Estate agents, much like solicitors, are on the front line and will experience first hand the impact of HIPs.

The Home Information Pack contains a large amount of complex, legal content. It's vital that this information is prepared quickly in order to get the property on to the market, and it's just as vital that the information is accurate, prepared by a properly qualified provider.

Work with a solicitor that uses the Law Society online HIP, and you'll be working with a qualified, regulated provider and a flexible, reliable pack solution, designed to meet the needs of estate agents and their clients.
Read more (PDF, 90kb)

Speak with your solicitor today about the Home Information Pack services they offer. If you don't have a solicitor, you can use our find a solicitor service to find one in your area.

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Regulations

24 July 2007

The Department of Communities and Local Government published the final HIPs regulations on June 11 2007. The regulations cover the meaning of HIPs, their contents, assembly and authenticity, exceptions to the duty to have a pack, and enforcement of HIP duties. The following documents can be found on the Home Information Pack website.

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Law Society's HIPs policy

We continue to question whether HIPs will bring the consumer benefits intended, and we're monitoring the implementation process. Read the following:

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Law Society's Property Section

Want to know more about HIPs? Join the Law Society's Property Section and receive:

  • HIPs handling guide
  • Property in Practice quarterly magazine with regular HIP features.
  • 10 e-newsletters per year with the latest news on HIPs from the Law Society, government and other third parties.
  • detailed commentaries on HIP developments by practitioners and those involved.
  • early e-mail notification of all major announcements.
  • member only discussion forum and networking opportunities to talk about issues and concerns.
  • online access to government and third party statements and publications.
  • discounted delegate rate at HIP events.
  • discounted rate on Home Information Packs: a guide to the new law (Law Society Publishing, 2006).
  • chance to get involved with yearly elections to the Executive Committee.

The Property Section is one of four representative membership associations of the Law Society. Launched in 2002, it provides best practice information and support to practising property solicitors and licensed conveyancers.

Find out about the full range of products and services and membership rates. Prices start from £40 + VAT per person.

Join online

Enquiries: propertysection@lawsociety.org.uk or 020 7320 5873.

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Further information and advice

For legal practice advice from solicitors on conveyancing issues, contact the Law Society's Practice Advice Service on 0870 606 2522 or at practiceadvice@lawsociety.org.uk between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday-Friday.

Any media enquiries should be directed to the Law Society's press office on 020 7320 5764.

The Law Society:

Department for Communities and Local Governments:

Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI):

Property in Practice articles

This is the quarterly magazine of the Law Society's Property Section. A summary of HIPs-related articles over recent months appears below. Become a member or subscribe to the magazine.

  • September 2007
    Seasonal changes, by Michael Garson
    - The impact of a raft of recent changes to housing policy.
    Picking up the pieces, by Paul Marsh
    - Government urged to evaluate HIPs again before extending the scheme.

  • June 2007
    Policy shift, by Michael Garson
    - The implications of the government’s decision to delay implementation of HIPs.
    Time to move on, by Peter Rodd
    - How does rule 3 fit in with the new Solicitors’ Code of Conduct?
    Shambolic back down
    - Paul Marsh comments on the 11th hour turnaround of the Government to introduce HIPs.
    Searching questions, by Fiona Hoyle
    - The reliability of personal searches and the work of the Council of Property Search Organisations.
    Addressing complaints
    - Estate agents have never had an easy ride with the British public, says Bill McClintock, as he explains the profession's redress scheme.

  • March 2007
    Protocol focus, by Michael Garson
    - The new TransAction protocol designed and adapted for HIPs is discussed.
    Pack planning
    - Paul Marsh summarises the Law Society's response to the recent consultation on Home Information Packs(HIPs).

Law Society Gazette articles

Search the Gazette site

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Author(s): Business development and best practice