home inspector.co.uk newspages..

Government gives green light to Home Information Packs on 3 bedroom homes

Ministers have given the go-ahead to introducing Home Information Packs on 11million more properties from next month.

Following the success of the first phase of Home Information Packs required on all 4 bedroom homes since 1st August, the Government has just announced they will cover three-bedroom homes from 10th September. Determined to demonstrate the benefits of HIPs and to overcome the negative press and opposition from vested interest groups, Ministers have decided to push ahead with the next stage of the scheme.

Commenting on the news, Stephen Callaghan, Chief Executive of property-careers.com said:

"As 3 bedroom homes are the most common type of property this news is very significant for the many energy assessors and home inspectors who have been anxiously awaiting the date for 3 bedroom homes to come in. This announcement represents a critical tipping point and will finally put paid to all those doubters in the industry who have always believed that HIPs would never happen."

He goes on further to say:

"Demand for EPCs has increased progressively through our Business exchange the-energy-portal since HIPs went-live and this news will signal a massive increase in activity for all of our DEAs and Home Inspectors. They have been waiting patiently for this news and it will be incredibly well received."

Everyone involved in the buying and selling process now accepts that the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a key part of the HIP and is not at all controversial.

Anyone now entering this new industry can also reasonably expect the remaining housing stock to come online by the end of the year.

There have been some concerns that there will not be enough assessors in property hotspots, but in response, Mike Ockenden, Director General of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers, said: "There are no issues or problems. We have more than enough assessors and the geographical balance is fine."

Communities Minister Baroness Andrews said:

"We are now ready to start rolling out HIPs and EPCs to the next part of the market as promised, and improve a home buying and selling process which currently is not working for consumers or the environment."

"HIPs and EPCs can help families to save hundreds of pounds off their fuel bills, and cut a million tonnes of carbon a year. They also have the potential to reduce the millions of pounds wasted by consumers when buying and selling a home, by increasing transparency and competition in a process that hasn't changed for a generation."

August 2007