PCCB suspends registration of search firm
The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) today announced that it has suspended the registration of Ms K & Mrs J Burridge t/a Search Pack UK and Epcworx (also/previously known as Fasthipsuk also trading as Southwest Energy Assessors, Hipsearchuk and Myhipsearchuk) after it failed to meet the Board’s compliance requirements and thereby comply with PCCB’s Registration Rules.
17 Dec 2010 - Read more...
PCCB welcomes revised Search Code
The PCCB has today welcomed the publication of a revised and strengthened Search Code by the Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO).
It also released its annual report on the work of the Board to date and how it sees the next year of self regulation in the industry.
22 Oct 2010 - Read more...
Revised Search Code and Consultation Announced
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO), owner of the Search Code of Practice, has announced a revised Code to reflect the new market environment while still maintaining standards. A corresponding consultation with key stakeholders has also been initiated. These developments are as a consequence of the recent suspension of the HIP Regulations meaning that the legal framework governing the provision of local and other property search reports has fallen away. PCCB welcomes the revision, consultation and also the aims to actively promote the Code as a mark of quality with key stakeholders and to add value to the Code by creating a clear differentiation in the market between reliable operators and those whose actions bring the whole industry into disrepute.
The full CoPSO press release is copied below.
01 Jul 2010 - Read more...
PCCB Statement on Suspension of HIPs
In the light of today's Government statement, the PCCB has suspended its compliance activities in respect of the HIP Code with immediate effect. It will also review its role in relation to both the Search Code and any subsequent developments in the market following the demise of compulsory HIPs.
20 May 2010 - Read more...
PCCB Cancels Registration of HIP Firm
The PCCB has today cancelled the registration of HIP-Save Ltd and HIPserve (UK) Ltd as a subscriber to the HIP Code of Practice for failure to comply with PCCB’s Registration Rules.
06 May 2010 - Read more...
Revised HIP Code announced
AHIPP, the owner of the HIP Code, today announced minor revisions to the Code to provide increased protection for users of Exchange Ready Packs. The changes are effective from today but firms will as always have a period of grace in which to meet the new requirements. The full AHIPP press release is copied below.
16 Apr 2010 - Read more...
PCCB suspends registration of HIP Provider
The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) today announced that it has suspended the registration of HIP Code subscriber HIP-Save Ltd and HIPserve (UK) Ltd after it persistently failed to meet the Board’s compliance requirements and thereby comply with PCCB’s Registration Rules.
12 Mar 2010 - Read more...
First Codes Workshop of 2010 in Leeds
The PCCB is pleased to announce that the next Codes Workshop, organised jointly with AHIPP and CoPSO, is scheduled to take place on Thursday 18 March 2010 in the International Room at the offices of the Institute of Directors in Leeds (3 Albion Place, Leeds, LS1 6JL). The IoD is situated in the heart of the city, ten minutes walk from Leeds mainline station.
10 Mar 2010 - Read more...
Birmingham Trading Standards Announces Mystery Shopping Exercise Results
Trading Standards of Birmingham City Council today announced the results of a mystery shopping exercise among estate agents and HIP providers conducted by Trading Standards which was supported by PCCB.
PCCB welcomes the publication of these results which reveal that HIP and Search Code subscriber products are the most reliable and accurate in the market and reinforces the results of ongoing compliance testing published in January.
10 Mar 2010 - Read more...
Check your HIP logo consumers and agents advised
The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) has today published new advice to property professionals to ensure that industry due diligence procedures do not impose unnecessary costs to consumers. The advice comes amid concerns that consumers are being forced to pay for unnecessary double checks on HIPs and their contents.
24 Aug 2009 - Read more...
Better Support Promised for Homeowners over HIPs
Property Ombudsman to handle more enquiries and disputes -
Two bodies covering the residential property sector in respect of consumer redress and industry Codes of Practice have commenced alignment of their consumer enquiry and dispute resolution functions.
The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) has begun the transition to direct consumer enquiries to The Property Ombudsman (TPO) and later, in mid-September, will also be moving its consumer redress function to create a simplified redress system for consumers across the whole sector.
04 Aug 2009 - Read more...
Industry Action Defies Downturn
The property market’s woes have done nothing to dent its efforts to guarantee high standards across the board over the last year, an industry regulator said today.
The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB), the industry body responsible for enforcing standards among code registered HIP and property search providers, has published its annual report outlining its work over the last 12 months to enforce industry codes of practice.
15 Jun 2009 - Read more...
New Collaboration Boosts Consumer Protection - 'Move is good news' says Which?
Two main bodies involved in the residential property sector today announced plans for closer collaborative working. The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) and the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA) - who between them share responsibility for setting standards through their respective Codes of Practice that apply to the majority of HIP and search providers and estate agents – have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
03 Apr 2009 - Read more...
Industry Effort to Drive Forward HIP Standards Welcomed
The Home Information Pack (HIP) industry has taken another stride forward in its efforts to promote high quality consumer standards, the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) said today. The PCCB is the independent body responsible for monitoring standards amongst firms that subscribe to the HIP and Search Codes of Practice.
18 Feb 2009 - Read more...
Property Regulator calls time on flawed HIPs
The regulatory body for Home Information Pack and search providers, the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB), today reacted swiftly in response to an investigation into HIPs by Birmingham Trading Standards, which saw five out of six being classed as “unsatisfactory”.
02 Oct 2008 - Read more...
PCCB Supports Carsberg Call for New Regulatory Framework
The Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) – the body responsible for regulating HIP providers and personal search companies that subscribe to the HIP and Search Codes of Practice - has come out in support of Sir Bryan Carsberg’s call in his Review of Residential Property for a new and comprehensive regulatory framework covering home sales and other residential property matters.
01 Jul 2008 - Read more...
Growing Support for Industry Search and HIP Codes
Support for the Search and HIP Codes of Practice has been growing at a fast pace since the recent introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPs) into the housing market. 220 firms are now registered with the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) as subscribers to the Codes and this figure is growing every month.
17 Oct 2007 - Read more...
Second Version of HIP code now live - 13 September 2007
The HIP Code sponsor, AHIPP (The Association of Home Information Pack Providers) has announced minor changes to the Code such as expanding the need to provide HIPs promptly to make it explicit that the provision of HIPs should not be delayed in any way by the provider following instruction.
13 Sep 2007 - Read more...