Monday 16 April 2007
Search industry backs the Search Code and quality standards says CoPSO

Contact: Fiona Hoyle Fiona@copso.org.uk

Only six months after the launch of the Search Code, the search industry has demonstrated its strong commitment to quality standards of practice with firms subscribing to the new Code. Search firms providing around 80% of personal searches and 100% of environmental searches are now signing-up to the Search Code, together with major water companies and the NLIS channels. 

The Search Code provides protection for homebuyers, sellers, mortgage lenders and conveyancers who rely on information included in property search reports and sets minimum standards which search organisations have to meet.  These include:

• A code of good practice
• Independent inspection and compliance monitoring via the Property Codes Compliance Board
• Comprehensive insurance
• Training and competence standards
• An independent complaints scheme.

Commenting on the strong support for the Search Code, CoPSO Chairman Fiona Hoyle said:

‘Support for the Search Code from search firms, stakeholders and the Government has been fantastic.  By subscribing to the Search Code, search firms are showing a clear commitment to working to quality standards, resulting in reports which consumers, conveyancers, lenders and HIP providers can have confidence in. We firmly believe that only private searches provided in accordance with prescribed standards should be included in HIPs and as part of the home buying process. All private search firms can register under the Code and over the next few months we will be encouraging even more to do so.’   

Notes to Editors

• The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO), is the leading trade association for the property search industry.  Members provide a range of property information reports including local, environmental, mining, drainage and water data and produce over 2m searches each year. CoPSO’s overall objective is to drive both market and product improvements to deliver the industry’s vision of faster and better informed property transactions.
• CoPSO has represented the search industry on the Government’s working groups reviewing the content of Home Information Packs, to be introduced in 2007. 

Council of Property Search Organisations
www.copso.org.uk

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