High street law firms 'underestimate their worth' and have less to fear from the introduction of home information packs (HIPs) than many have predicted, it has been claimed after research revealed that the majority of independent estate agents value their links with local firms and want to maintain them after 1 June 2007 - the date the packs become mandatory.


A survey of more than 1,000 agents by property Web site Rightmove found that 93% would be looking to preserve these links. A second survey of 289 agents found the qualities they most valued were the efficiency and effectiveness of local lawyers (50%), and having a trusted relationship with them (28%). The income to be gained from referral fees was important to just 4%.

Roger Wilson, solicitor and business services director at Rightmove, said: 'There's a great fear that panel management set-ups and big volume conveyancers will take over the world and high street lawyers will get squeezed out. [But this] survey suggests that high street solicitors underestimate their worth.'





Law Society President Kevin Martin added: 'This confirms [our] research that estate agents want to work with solicitors to provide the best HIPs service to consumers.'



However, the findings came as supermarket giant Asda began piloting its on-line estate agency across ten stores in north-east England.



Asda, which plans to offer free HIPs, has linked up with Hexham-based Homes at Supermarkets - which employs surveyors, licensed conveyancers and call centre staff - to provide the services.



An Asda spokeswoman hinted at further moves into legal services. She said: 'The estate agency initiative arose from our customer listening groups. If they begin to tell us that they want better value and improved services in the legal sector, too, then we will look very seriously at meeting that need.'



Catherine Baksi and Jonathan Rayner