'Smooth' Hips rollout 'nothing but spin'

The idea of a smooth rollout of the new housing information packs (Hips) is misleading and is nothing but spin, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).

An email sent by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) this week talks of a "smooth implementation" of the Hips system, although the NAEA claims this is inaccurate and misleading as agents on the ground are painting a very different picture.

Surveys have revealed a drop in the number of four-bedroomed properties on the market since the implementation of the Hips initial stages, with 63 per cent of NAEA agents reporting decreases over and above the seasonal average of 37 per cent.

NAEA president Stewart Lilly stated: "This latest communication from the government is blatant spin.

"It lacks any substance whatsoever – if there are in fact statistics to back up the claims then we would urge the DCLG to make them public to save further embarrassment."

He added: "We obviously welcome relevant information being released by government and would expect at least a balanced view that accepts that there are problems."

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