Business Name

Contact Name

Address

Postcode

Telephone

Website

Email

Membership Levels:

Full Member:

Available to all who provide Home Information Packs. Attracts full voting rights and benefits.

Associate Member

Industry professional who is not a HIP provider. No voting rights. Attracts all relevant benefits.

Level Of Membership Applied For

Fee Levels

- Single owner/manager, no other employees = £95

Full/Student Member

Associate Member

- 2 to 5 staff (including owner/managers) = £150

- 6 to 10 staff (including owner/managers) = £250

- 10+ = £400

- Single owner/manager, other employees = £80

- 2 to 5 staff (including owner/managers) = £120

- 6 to 10 staff (including owner/managers) = £200

- 10+ = £320

Associate member fees reflect the lack of voting rights.

Once your application has been submitted you will be advised to forward the following documentation:

 Valid Certificate of Professional Indemnity Insurance.

 Copy of valid Accreditation Scheme Certificate. (Full members Only)

 A complete HIP for quality and compliance checking. (Full/HIPP members only)

 A copy of your Redress / Complaints Procedure. *Please note that your complaints procedure must be specific to HIP production. You may need to operate two procedures which reflect DEA and HIP work. See Redress Procedure for suggested complaints procedure template.

Student Member

Open to anyone wishing to provide HIPs but doesn't already do so. As soon as a HIP has been completed by the Student Member it must be submitted to IPPA for qualtiy and compliance checking. Once the criteria for FULL/HIPP Membership is met, the member's status will be automatically upgraded.

Once approved, we will provide you with access to the members only areas of the website. Please provide us with your preferred user name (a password will be supplied):

User Name

 A copy of your HIP Order Confirmation.

Please confirm the number of staff employed by your company

Independent Pack Providers Association (IPPA) Membership Agreement

A. The Association is a Members only unincorporated Association.

B. The Applicant wishes to become a Member of the Association, has completed the Application Documentation to the Association’s satisfaction and is eligible under the criteria for Membership as outlined in this agreement, the Constitution, the Set of Principles and Code of Conduct.

C. The Association will agree to the Applicant becoming a Member of the Association upon the terms, and subject to the conditions, set out in this Agreement.

As follows:-

1. INTERPRETATION

1.1 In this Agreement the following words and phrases have the meanings given below:-

Annual Membership Fee means the fees paid to cover the period 1st June until 31st May in each year. Membership Renewal is automatic. Members who join after 31 December in any year will, at the discretion of the Executive Board, pay a reduced annual subscription of 50% of the annual fee.

Agreement means this Agreement together with the documents which are referred to herein.

Application Documentation means the application form and declarations issued by the Association from time to time in connection with applications for Membership.

Code of Conduct means the IPPA Code of Conduct containing the Duties and Responsibilities of Member Business’ as may be updated or amended from time to time.

Constitution means the IPPA Constitution.

Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) means individuals who are members of an Approved Accreditation Scheme.

Home Inspector (HI) means individuals who are members of Approved Certification Associations.

Eligibility Requirements means that a Business meets the criteria for membership set out within this agreement.

Eligible means that the Member meets the Eligibility Requirements (and "Eligibility" shall be construed and interpreted accordingly).

Home Information Pack (HIP) shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with Part 5 of the Housing Act.

Housing Act means the Housing Act 2004.

Income means all fees, commission and income of whatever nature received by the Member in connection with the carrying out of the Member's Activities.

Ineligible means not meeting the Eligibility Requirements for any reason. Legal Requirements means:

any act, statutory instrument, by-law, obligation of the European Community or ordinance in force from time to time to which either party is subject;
the common law and the law of equity as applicable to the parties from time to time;
any binding court order, judgment, decree or requirement;
any applicable industry code, policy or standard enforceable by law; or
any applicable direction, guidance, policy, rule or order that is binding on a party and that is made or given by any regulatory body having jurisdiction over a party or any of that party’s assets, resources or business, including but not limited to any local or supranational agency, inspectorate, minister, ministry, official or public or statutory person of the Government of the United Kingdom or of the National Assembly of Wales, in any jurisdiction that is applicable to this Agreement.

Member means the sole trader, partnership or company that has been accepted for membership of IPPA.

Member's Activities means the activities carried out by the member in conducting their business or occupation.

Membership means the Member's membership of the Association upon the terms, and subject to the conditions, set out in this Agreement.

Membership Commencement Date means the date upon which the Association accepts the application and notifies the member of their acceptance.

Membership End Date means the date upon which Membership expires or ends for whatever reason in accordance with this Agreement.

Membership Fee means the sum specified as such in the Application Documentation which is payable by the Member on or before the date of this Agreement.

Redress Procedure means the Members’ procedure for dealing with complaints and forms part of the application documentation.

Secretary of State means the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government acting on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government, or any successor department.

Set of Principles means the IPPA Set of Principles outlining the principles by which any Member Business will be expected to abide.

Standards means the standards which are set by the Association from time to time which are applicable to the level of membership of the Association.

Term means the term of Membership in accordance with this Agreement.

1.2 The clause headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not limit or govern or otherwise affect its interpretation in any way.
1.3 A reference to any statutory or legislative provision includes a reference to that provision as modified, replaced, amended and/or re-enacted from time to time and any subordinate legislation made under it.

2. MEMBERSHIP TERM
2.1 Membership shall commence, or be deemed to have commenced, on the Membership Commencement Date and shall continue until the 31st of May each year when renewal will be automatically processed by IPPA.
2.2 The Member shall be entitled to renew his Membership by submitting the Renewal Documentation and paying the Renewal Fee, provided that he is still eligible.

3. MEMBER'S OBLIGATIONS

3.1 The Member shall at all times during the period of this Agreement comply with:
3.1.1 The Set of Principles.
3.1.2 The Code of Conduct;
3.1.3 The Redress Procedure; and
3.1.4 Legal Requirements in each case to the extent that they are applicable to the Member and the Member's Activities from time to time.

4. MEMBERSHIP FEES AND TRANSACTION FEES

4.1 The Member shall pay to the Association on their due dates as specified by the Association from time to time:
4.1.1 the Membership Fees in consideration of the services provided by the Association in respect of Membership; and
4.1.2 Application fees are non-refundable in any event irrespective of whether or not membership is awarded.
4.1.3 Annual membership fees are payable in respect of any period of 12 months or part thereof and no refund is payable in the event of the member withdrawing from membership or in any other event.
4.2 Levels of Membership
4.2.1 Full Member - Qualified Energy Assessors or Certified Home inspectors who wish to provide Home Information Packs. Attracts full voting rights and DEA & HI/HIPP benefits.
4.2.2 HIPP Member - Non DEA/HI qualified HIP provider. Attracts full voting rights and HIPP benefits.
4.2.3 Student Member - Open to anyone wishing to provide HIPs but doesn't already do so. Attracts full voting rights and relevant benefits.
4.2.4 Associate Member - Industry professional who is not a HIP provider. No voting rights. Attracts relevant benefits
4.2.5 Honorary Member - Provides a consultancy service in return for free membership at the executive’s discretion. No voting rights. Attracts relevant benefits.
4.3 Membership Fees
4.3.1 Full/HIPP/Student Member Single owner/manager, no other employees = £75 2 to 5 staff (including owner/managers) = £150 6 to 10 staff (including owner/managers) = £250 10+ = £400
4.3.2 Associate Member Single owner/manager, other employees = £60 2 to 5 staff (including owner/managers) = £120 6 to 10 staff (including owner/managers) = £200 10+ = £320

5. CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

5.1 The Member represents and warrants that:
5.1.1 The information set out in the Application Documentation is true, complete and accurate in all respects.
5.2 The Member shall immediately notify the Association upon the occurrence of any changes to the information supplied with the initial application documentation.

6. DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND CONSUMER REDRESS

6.1 The Member's attention is drawn to the Associations’ Redress Procedure which sets out the procedure for consumer redress.
6.2 The Member agrees to abide by the outcome of the disciplinary action and consumer redress procedure and, if applicable, both parties agree to abide by the outcome of such actions as stipulated and controlled by the Governing Documents (see Clause 9 below).

7. SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF/FROM MEMBERSHIP Rights of Suspension

7.1 The circumstances and procedure for disciplinary action and consumer redress are subject to the provisions of Clause 9 below (Governing Documents). Withdrawal of Membership by the Association
7.2 The Association shall be entitled to serve notice to the Member withdrawing Membership on the date specified in such notice if at any time:
7.2.1 The Member commits a material breach of this Agreement which is capable of remedy and which the Member fails to remedy within such period as is specified in the notice given by the Association (acting reasonably in all the circumstances); or
7.2.2 The Member commits a material breach of this Agreement which is not capable of remedy.
Withdrawal from Membership by the Member
7.3 The Member may withdraw from Membership at any time by serving written notice to the Association.
General Provisions
7.4 Before withdrawal of/from Membership may take effect the Member shall:
7.4.1 Pay all outstanding Fees.
7.5 Upon withdrawal of/from Membership for any reason taking effect in accordance with Clauses 7.2, 7.3 or 7.4 above:
7.5.1 This Agreement shall automatically terminate;
7.5.2 The Member shall cease to hold himself out as being a member of the Association.
7.5.3 The Association shall as soon as reasonably practicable update the Member's status on the IPPA database.

8. DUTIES OF THE ASSOCIATION
8.1 The Association shall at all times in its dealings with the Member endeavour to:
8.1.1 Act in a consistent, fair and open manner;
8.1.2 Give clear and justifiable reasons for any decisions taken by the Association which relate specifically to the Member (as opposed to decisions which affect all members of the Association) including in particular any matter in relation to which Clauses 6 and 7 above apply.
8.2 Whether or not the Association has acted in accordance with its duties is a matter which is subject to the provisions of Clause 9 below (Governing Documents).
8.3 If applicable, both parties agree to abide by the outcome of Clause 9 below (Governing Documents).

9. GOVERNING DOCUMENTS

The behaviour and activities of both the Member and the Association are governed by: the IPPA Redress Procedure, the IPPA Code of Conduct, the IPPA Set of Principles and the IPPA Constitution which along with this Membership Agreement form the Association’s Governing Documents.

10. STATUS AND AUTHORITY OF THE MEMBER

10.1 The Member represents and warrants that he is an independent contractor. Nothing in this Agreement shall render the Member an employee, worker, agent or partner of the Association and the Member shall not hold himself out as such.
10.2 The Member acknowledges and agrees that:
10.2.1 Members are in commercial competition with one another; and
10.3 The Member shall be entitled to use another person, firm or company to perform any operational, administrative, clerical or secretarial functions which are reasonably incidental to Membership and the carrying out of the Member Activities and if he does so the Member shall:
10.3.1 Accept all liability for their terms of engagement; and
10.3.2 Indemnify and hold the Association harmless from any claims or liability of whatever nature
10.4 The Member shall be responsible for all costs and out of pocket disbursements incurred by him in carrying out the Member's Activities.
10.5 The Association shall not be vicariously liable for the acts or omissions of the Member and the Association shall have no liability to the Member in respect of any damage or injury suffered by the Member in connection with the carrying out the Member's Activities.
10.6 The Member shall not be entitled by virtue of this Agreement to bind the Association or to contract in the name of or create liability against the Association in any way and for any purpose except as may be expressly authorised in writing by the Association.
10.7 During the Term, the Member:
10.7.1 May carry out such other business and activities as he sees fit but only insofar as: (a) Such other business and activities do not (in the opinion of the Association): (i) Lead to any conflict of interest between the Member and the best interests of the Association and (b) Such other business and activities are otherwise consistent with Membership; and
10.8.2 Shall immediately disclose to the Association any such impingement or conflict of interest which arises.
10.9 Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Association from awarding membership.
10.10 Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Member from joining any other Association.

11. INSURANCE

11.1 The Member shall, throughout the Term take out and maintain full and comprehensive insurance policies for professional indemnity, employer's liability (if applicable) and public liability in respect of the carrying out of Member's Activities. The Member shall ensure that the level and terms of cover are acceptable to the Association
11.2 The Member shall supply a copy of the said policies to the Association promptly on request together with evidence that the premiums on them have been paid (if applicable).

12. DATA PROTECTION

12.1 The Member consents to the Association holding and processing personal data relating to him for legal, personnel, administrative and management purposes and in particular to the processing of any "sensitive personal data" (as defined in the Data Protection Act 1998) relating to the Member.
12.2 The Member consents to the Association recording:
12.2.1 The Member's name and address;
12.2.2 The Member’s trading name;
12.2.3 The Member's unique membership number;
12.2.4 The Member's level of membership (Full, HIPP, Associate or Honorary).

13. ASSIGNMENT/SUB-CONTRACTING

13.1 Membership is specific to the Members’ Business/Company and the Member shall not assign any of his rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Association.
13.2 The Association shall be entitled to assign or sub-contract any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Member.

14. SEVERABILITY

In the event that any of the terms of this Agreement are determined by any competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, such term shall to that extent be severed from the body of this Agreement which shall continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement sets out the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to its subject matter. No party has entered into this Agreement in reliance upon any representation, warranty or undertaking of any other party which is not set out or referred to in this Agreement.

16. THIRD PARTY RIGHTS

This Agreement is not intended to create any benefit, claim or rights of any kind whatsoever enforceable by any person who is not a party to this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties confirm that no term of this Agreement is enforceable under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 by a person who is not a party to this Agreement