HIP Baseline Research: Main Report

Abstract:

In March 2006, ODPM (now Department for Communities and Local Government) commissioned a research project to establish the baseline for home buying and selling activity in England and Wales.

The research was explicitly designed to address the Department's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set for the introduction of the Home Information Packs. A critical requirement was that the new research is capable of replication post implementation of the HIP.

The method used has obtained a more accurate baseline, faster, more efficiently and at lower cost than would have been possible by repeating the '1998 method'.

Data relating to a good cross-section of the different types of dwellings across England and Wales was collected from estate agents, buyers, sellers and solicitors. Estate agents routinely gather information on transaction dates and other aspects of individual house sales, and therefore this group was central to the study methodology. A sample of 361 estate agents was recruited, resulting in data on a total of 1,059 housing completions from 221 agents over a one-month period. A total of 490 telephone interviews were conducted with buyers and sellers, and 487 with solicitors.

21% of buyers and sellers were dissatisfied with the overall buying/selling process. More than 35% of buyers and sellers were dissatisfied with the length of time it took. However, 82% of solicitors were satisfied with the efficiency of the current system.

In conclusion, a robust, representative and easily repeatable baseline has been established for the year 2006. It has been set in the context of the current housing market, and specific reference has been made to its role in monitoring DCLG's KPIs for the Home Information Pack.

1. Introduction
2. Methodology and achieved sample
3. State of the market
4. Sample breakdown
5. HIP Baseline research findings
6. Conclusions

• Appendix A - Profile of the 2006 Transactions database
• Appendix B - Transaction Key stages
• Appendix C - Buyers findings
• Appendix D - Sellers' findings
• Appendix E - Solicitor'as perspective

Publication Year:

2007

Publisher:

Department for Communities and Local Government

DOI:

No DOI minted

Author(s):

Department for Communities and Local Government