A West Midlands-based internet firm is to pilot a scheme to help transform the house moving process.
Rapidmove, in Manor Road, Coventry city centre, is believed to be the first company to produce an electronic Home Information Pack ahead of forthcoming changes in the Housing Act 2004.
The company - which opera-tes online at www.rapidmove.com - will also be taking part in 2006 in the dry-run arranged for early adopters of the scheme ahead of changes to the Act, which will require all residential sellers to have a Home Information Pack (HIP). Feedback from the dry-run will help formulate the content and procedures for the final delivery of HIPs in June 2007.
HIPs will contain complete information about a property before it can be put on the market and are due to become a legal requirement by June 1 2007, when Home Information Packs 'go live'.
Paul Broadhead, HIP business change manager at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, said: "We welcome the support from organisations such as Rapidmove who are already setting up as home information pack providers to consumers on a voluntary basis.
"This smart approach will help to ensure the packs are implemented seamlessly to the consumer on June 1 2007."
Tricia Lawlor, technical director of Rapidmove, said the electronic HIP would be presented to Housing Minister Yvette Cooper to support the introduction of the new legislation.
"We understand we are the first company in the UK to produce an electronic HIP for a genuine sale transaction which is fantastic news," said Mrs Lawlor.
"Coupled with this is the fact that we are classed as early adopters of the new legislation and will take part in the dry run of the scheme next year. It reiterates our commitment to helping speed up the house moving process.
"The news capped our hugely successful official launch which was well attended by industry leaders from Coventry and Warwickshire and we were very pleased that so many colleagues could join us."
Rapidmove specifically produces electronic high-quality Home Information Packs (HIPs) for Coventry and Warwickshire residents.
