One billion pounds have been spent on HIPs

Earlier this week the new coalition government announced that it was abolishing Home Information Packs, or HIPs, other than keeping one element of the pack, which was the EPC or Energy Performance Certificate. The packs have caused huge controversy since they were brought in by Labour in 2007, with homeowners loathe to spend the hundreds of pounds required when trying to sell their homes.

According to recent reports homeowners in the UK have spent an astonishing £1 billion on these Home Information Packs since they were brought in, and many officials have branded this a complete waste of money adding that the HIPs were pretty pointless.

Estate agents across the nation have welcomed the new government’s decision to abolish these packs just a few days after coming into power. For estate agents the need for HIPs caused a number of problems, including a reduction in properties being sold because of the additional cost and also potential delays with property sales due to the need for the pack.

The report claims that around 2.7 million homeowners have been forced to pay for one of these packs in order to sell their homes, but that in the most part those buying the property didn’t even bother to look at the information in the packs. The new housing minister, Grant Schapps, said that he was keen to get on with ‘cutting away pointless red tape that is strangling the market’.

Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, said that the money that homeowners would save would come in useful for other things, stating: ‘Hips are history. I hope people can use the money they save to do something useful for themselves, like go to B&Q and buy some paint or some shelving or some white goods.’

Tags: Home Information Pack, homeowners, epc, HIP, Energy Performance Certificate

Government postpones EPC on new builds

In another change to the roll out of the controversial Home Information Packs, the government has announced a delay in the need for new build properties and conversions to require an EPC or Energy Performance Certificate, which forms part of the HIPs.

This requirement was due to start in January, but has now been postponed until 6th April next year, at which time the home builder will be responsible for the provision of an EPC.

The government has experienced a number of delays in the roll out of HIPs, which at present are only required for properties of three bedrooms or more but are meant to be rolled out to all properties.

An official from Easier2move stated: “We are disappointed the government has chosen to delay the introduction of EPCs on all new build homes until April 6 2008 – putting the launch three months behind schedule.”

She added: “Not only does this disadvantage purchasers of new build properties, who will be missing out on EPCs, but will also be a blow for energy assessors who are already struggling to find work due to the delayed HIP launch and consequent phased roll-out – this further delay will therefore be a great disappointment to them.”

She also said: “We hope the government realises the strain that this delay will be putting on energy assessors and will continue with its stated agenda going forward. In addition, to ensure confidence in the market is maintained, we urge the government to introduce the phased roll-out of HIPs on one and two bed properties as a matter of urgency.”

Tom Smith
14th November 2007

Tags: energy, certificate, performance, epc, information, packs, home