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Tory bid to speed up house sales Tory bid to speed up house sales
(about 1 hour later)
The Tories have launched a review aimed at speeding up the way homes are bought and sold in England and Wales.The Tories have launched a review aimed at speeding up the way homes are bought and sold in England and Wales.
The party has recruited property expert Kirstie Allsopp to help come up with ideas to make the process less expensive and stressful.The party has recruited property expert Kirstie Allsopp to help come up with ideas to make the process less expensive and stressful.
Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps says the party would start by ditching the new Home Information Packs (HIPs).Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps says the party would start by ditching the new Home Information Packs (HIPs).
The government says the packs - which will be needed for all sales from next Friday - are benefiting consumers.The government says the packs - which will be needed for all sales from next Friday - are benefiting consumers.
But Mr Shapps said they had "introduced wasteful red tape and up-front costs to the seller with little or no appreciable advantage to the buyer".But Mr Shapps said they had "introduced wasteful red tape and up-front costs to the seller with little or no appreciable advantage to the buyer".
If everyone says they like HIPs I will walk naked across College Green Kirstie Allsopp Interest rates cut to 5.5% HIPs to get full roll-outIf everyone says they like HIPs I will walk naked across College Green Kirstie Allsopp Interest rates cut to 5.5% HIPs to get full roll-out
He said the Conservatives would keep the government's Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) but wanted to "improve the process of moving home".He said the Conservatives would keep the government's Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) but wanted to "improve the process of moving home".
He said Labour had "failed hopelessly to speed up the home buying and selling process and may even have slowed it down".He said Labour had "failed hopelessly to speed up the home buying and selling process and may even have slowed it down".
He told BBC News 24: "It takes a ridiculous amount of time and it is very expensive. I think we can do it better and that is what this review is going to be about."He told BBC News 24: "It takes a ridiculous amount of time and it is very expensive. I think we can do it better and that is what this review is going to be about."
'Stress''Stress'
Ms Allsopp, who co-presents Channel 4 property show Location, Location, Location, said the house-buying process in England and Wales was "mired in pointless bureaucracy and red tape".Ms Allsopp, who co-presents Channel 4 property show Location, Location, Location, said the house-buying process in England and Wales was "mired in pointless bureaucracy and red tape".
"My feeling personally is that it takes too long and that the stress that happens during the process causes a lot of breakdowns."My feeling personally is that it takes too long and that the stress that happens during the process causes a lot of breakdowns.
"It is a stress which we don't need and it's one we can do something about."It is a stress which we don't need and it's one we can do something about.
"It is my ambition to make it easier for people to buy and sell houses.""It is my ambition to make it easier for people to buy and sell houses."
She said she would be seeking the views of homebuyers on the best way of reforming the system and was prepared to consider all ideas - except keeping HIPs.She said she would be seeking the views of homebuyers on the best way of reforming the system and was prepared to consider all ideas - except keeping HIPs.
"If everyone says they like HIPs I will walk naked across College Green," she added."If everyone says they like HIPs I will walk naked across College Green," she added.
'Helping consumers' Gazumping
The Conservatives have also signed up property expert Owen Inskip to focus on the housing industry, seeking the views of estate agents, surveyors, solicitors and mortgage lenders.The Conservatives have also signed up property expert Owen Inskip to focus on the housing industry, seeking the views of estate agents, surveyors, solicitors and mortgage lenders.
Mr Shapps said the review would look at how homes are bought and sold in other countries, including Northern Ireland, where EPCs have been introduced without HIPs, and Scotland. The making and accepting of an offer on a house could be made legally binding to end gazumping, in one of the proposals being considered.
Mr Shapps said the review would also look at how homes are bought and sold in other countries, including Northern Ireland, where EPCs have been introduced without HIPs, and Scotland.
"They actually have a system [in Scotland] where both sides commit at an earlier stage."They actually have a system [in Scotland] where both sides commit at an earlier stage.
"That has its problems as well but it's certainly a system we will be looking at," he told BBC News."That has its problems as well but it's certainly a system we will be looking at," he told BBC News.
HIPs will be required for all properties being sold in England and Wales from 14 December. Since September, all properties with three or more bedrooms have required a HIP before they can be sold.HIPs will be required for all properties being sold in England and Wales from 14 December. Since September, all properties with three or more bedrooms have required a HIP before they can be sold.
The average cost of a HIP is between £300 and £350.The average cost of a HIP is between £300 and £350.
Housing Minister Yvette Cooper has said HIPs and EPCs were "helping consumers to save hundreds of pounds off their fuel bills and are cutting search costs too".Housing Minister Yvette Cooper has said HIPs and EPCs were "helping consumers to save hundreds of pounds off their fuel bills and are cutting search costs too".