Ignore all the negative hype

It's now official. The considerable weight of the consumer lobby is 100% behind Home Information Packs and Home Condition Reports. Nick Stace, campaigns and communications director at Which? (Formerly known as the Consumers Association) says seller's packs are a great start to reform of a messy process.

What is more, the DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) has also come out fighting against all the negative publicity that SPLINTA, and other minority groups have been putting about recently.

Which.co.uk LogoIn response, Chief Executive of home inspectors.co.uk Stephen Callaghan said, 'Certain estate agents, lenders and lawyers all with considerable vested interests in keeping things the way they are have been spinning very negative news stories on all the Home Buying reforms. Their views have been intentionally and quite deliberately mischievous and misleading. The response by WHICH? And the DCLG's factual reaction to recent scare-mongering is powerful news and will set the record straight once and for all. Crucially, all the big-guns are now coming out very vocally to articulate the benefits to consumers, 100% in support of HIPs and this will bring about a good deal of common sense and balance to the debate. As one of the original advisors for the Government, we have always been keen supporters of this initiative and have recognised the real consumer advantages of HIPs and HCRs. Now the consumer-groups themselves are saying that these reforms will be of significant value to buyers as well as sellers and the changes are very timely.'

Read the full Observer article: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/cash/story/0,,1815918,00.html

and read the recent news release from DCLG: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1501135