Henry Pryor on Property

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In less than a week over 5,500 people have signed the latest petition, added perhaps more in hope than in expectancy, to the Downing Street web site.

Devised by the hugely under appreciated Nick Salmon who to the great shame of his professional colleagues was the only estate agent/surveyor to stick his head above the parapet when Home Information Packs were first suggested, this appeal for common sense is something that ANYONE who might what to sell or buy a home should read and then tell me why they shouldn't sign it.

Tony Blair started this attempt at democracy in his first term as PM which must now be one of the things that Gordon Brown now remembers being the reason he wanted to succeed Blair.

It is not the image that we have of the dour Scot that he might actually listen to what people have to say but whilst it is still there, I urge you to click through to the petition and decide for yourselves whether it is something worth supporting.

The effort is clearly aimed at those considering buying, selling or whom own a home and reads as follows;-

If you are planning to sell a home any time in the future, you'll want to know this.

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 huge 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 what we call First Day Marketing.

This is what you can do about it...

There is now an approved petition on the No 10 Downing Street website calling for First Day Marketing to be allowed to continue. Please sign it online and also forward this email to as many people as you can, especially friends and colleagues who may be thinking of buying or selling a home in the future.

If we can break the hundred thousand signature level the issue will be taken really seriously by central Government. And maybe for once this government will listen to its people!

Here's the link to the petition:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/homeselling

Have a think about it and decide if you want to have a go at changing the PM's mind. He has a new, pretty Secretary of State at Communities & Local Government since the departure of the serially ambitious Mrs Ed Balls so perhaps now is the time that everyone can have a sensible rethink without loosing face.

By all means shake up the house buying and selling process but lets have something that might make a difference rather than just bureaucracy for bureaucracy's sake.

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Do you disagree? Or agree? Let us know what you think and help shape future articles by emailing PryorOnProperty@mac.com

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