Policy Statements

CoPSO’s policy is based on two principles:

  • Open access to information held by local authorities and other public agencies.
  • Competition between providers of information.

More specifically, CoPSO is seeking to ensure that:

  • information held by public agencies should be available to organisations that provide searches
  • lenders and conveyancers accept searches carried out by private organisations subject to adequate standards being in place, in particular professional indemnity insurance
  • private searches providing local, environmental, drainage and water information should be acceptable for inclusion in Home Information Packs

CoPSO has submitted responses to all the recent consultation exercises - see below.

Date Publication Download
February 2007 CoPSO's response to CLG's HIPs update: Towards 1 June Word
30 December 2005 CoPSO’s submission to the ODPM on the draft HIPs regulations Word PDF
31 July 2003 CoPSO submission to the Office of the e-Envoy on the policy framework for a mixed economy in the supple of e-government services PDF
30 June 2003 CoPSO submission to the Government on the Contents of Home Improvement Packs PDF
30 June 2003 CoPSO evidence to the ODPM on the conduct of personal searches PDF
12 June 2003 Submission by the Council of Property Search Organisations to Select Committee for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the draft Housing Bill PDF
14 May 2003 Submission by the Council of Property Search Organisations to Select Committee for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the draft Housing Bill PDF