16 June 2008
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to allow the continuation of First Day Marketing of residential property beyond 31st May 2008."
Details of Petition:
"Despite massive opposition the Home Information Pack has been introduced for all residential properties. Currently the marketing of a property can begin as soon as the HIP is ordered but the Government intends to end this concession on 31st May 2008 and will require that the pack is physically complete before marketing commences. This will cause delays for sellers wanting to begin marketing quickly and is an infringement of the personal liberty to sell a property at will. There is no sustainable argument in favour of ending First Day Marketing and we call on the Government to allow its continuance indefinitely."
Read the Government’s response
The temporary first day marketing provision was introduced in August 2007 in order to help smooth the implementation of HIPs while the system was bedding-in. The provision has been successful in doing this by allowing a property to be marketed without a HIP, provided that one has been commissioned, paid for, and is expected to arrive within 28 days.
On 8 May 2008, the Government announced an extension to the provision from 1 June to 31 December 2008 in order to provide a further period of flexibility. Following this period the Government expects the temporary measure to end.