Rics accused of Hip-ocrisy

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has been accused of double standards over the way it has brought legal action against the government's Home information pack (Hip) scheme.

Almost 150 members of the organisation have signed a petition demanding that Hips be rolled out across the UK property market, revealing in the process that Rics did not consult its members when deciding to launch a judicial review against the government, according to the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC).

Rics's own legal action against the government was based on a perceived lack of consultation regarding the packs, something which has been echoed in the institution's own actions, according to campaigners.

"A large body of Rics members believe that Rics has done exactly what it claimed the government has done in that it hasn't consulted its members of stakeholders and has acted in a heavy handed way," commented SSH Chartered Surveyors partner Margaret Grafham, according to the APHC website.

Home information packs were introduced on August 1st for properties with four or more bedrooms and September 10th for three-bed homes, but a date for a full-scale rollout has yet to be confirmed.


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