A report written by Sir Bryan Carsberg, a former head of the OFT, has recommended that estate agents be regulated & that HIPs should become voluntary

A report written by Sir Bryan Carsberg, a former head of the OFT, has recommended that estate agents be regulated and that HIPs should become voluntary - BBC news

The report also recommended that all estate agents become members of a redress organisation such as an Ombudsman Scheme for Estate Agents, which will probably become a legal requirement later this year.

Chard sales is a member of the ombudsman scheme and we welcome any legislation that will give consumers and estate agents alike confidence and a fair redress system within a clearly defined regulatory structure. Sadly the history of UK governments interfering with market processes has been poor to say the least over the last few years and like other estate agents in London we hope that goverment interference is restricted to delivering higher standards within the industry - and not scoring political points. There are one or two bad apples within the industry - and much the same as criminals exist within the wider community populist law making has got to prevent this element from operating without burdening an otherwise efficient industry with yet more bureaucratic red tape.

On the subject of making HIPs voluntary - Sir Bryan has already earmed a well deserved Khighthood!