HIPs background & history
Home Information Pack (HIP) update 11th June 2007
The Government has updated its implementation plan for HIPs. 4-bedroom homes being marketed on or after 1st August 2007 must have a HIP including an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC); 3-bedroom and other properties will be phased in later. Full text of the update >>
Home Information Pack (HIP) update 22nd May 2007
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly this afternoon made a statement to the House of Commons on the implementation of HIPs and EPCs.
HIPs and EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) will bedelayed until 1st August and will be phased in starting with 4-bedroom and larger properties which are deemed to be least energy efficient. Statement as follows:
“HIPs and EPCs to start on August 1, implemented on a phased basis. From August 1 packs - including energy performance certificates - will be required for the sale of four bedroom properties and larger. These are the properties which are the most energy inefficient. We will phase in packs for smaller properties as sufficient energy assessors become ready to start work.”
To read the full press notice, Ministerial statement and updated Q&A go to http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/consumer/100_pressrelease25May.html
Home Information Pack (HIP) update 10th May 2007
If you are selling your house yourself and wish to compile your Home Information Pack yourself take a look at the Procedural Guidance from the government. It’s a long document but is the definitive guide for what should and shouldn’t be included.
Download HIPs Procedural Guide >>
Home Information Pack (HIP) update 29 March 2007
Excerpt from Communities and Local Government, Home Information Pack team HIPs progress update:
Home Information Pack Regulations
The Home Information Pack Regulations 2007 were laid before Parliament this morning. This represents a major milestone in the HIP timetable and the culmination of a significant amount of discussion with stakeholders to fine tune the policy.
Following the consultation in January, we have made a small number of changes, taking on board the comments received. As a result, the Regulations require that:
- For a transitional period, sellers can market their homes with a HIP that includes the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), sale statement, evidence of title and index; and evidence that other documents have been commissioned and will be included in the pack as soon as practicable (and certainly within 28 days);
- The EPC is included as the first document in the pack, following the index;
- For those properties that cannot have an EPC — such as those bought ‘off-plan’ — a separate energy assessment will be included;
- The duty to refresh time-sensitive parts of the HIP will not arise where the property is re-marketed by the same seller within one year of the original marketing date;
- Personal search companies will be allowed to use insurance immediately for those parts of the search where they cannot gain access to data. This will only apply for a transitional period until April 2008;
- Properties already on the market by 1 June 2007 will not need a HIP unless they remain on the market after 31 December 2007.
The Regulations and a summary of the consultation responses are available on the HIPs website.
Home Information Pack (HIP) update 2 March 2007
After several delays it looks like Home Information Packs will be required to be provided by all sellers by 1st June 2007. The contents of the HIP can be seen on the Government’s web site >>
Quite a lot of the information to be provided is what must be provided for the sale contract anyway. However, some items will require a report by an authorised person - e.g. the Energy Performance Certificate. Energy performance assessors are only currently being trained and certified so it is difficult to see how these certificates will be available for sales in June 2007, or if they are, what they will be worth.
It’s obviously right that people should know about the energy efficiency of a property they are buying - but it is also a very personal, life-style thing. People buying an old property don’t expect it to be draught-proof but equally don’t mind wrapping up a bit. Surely that is something that people can judge for themselves. It will be a shame if owners and buyers of older properties are penalised - for example because buyers can’t get mortgages on less energy efficient properties.
Check out Energy Saving ideas at The Energy Saving Trust www.est.org.uk/myhome/
It’s likely that estate agents will put together HIPs for sellers as part of their service. Yesterday the Department of Trade and Industry announced the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA) will run a HIPs redress scheme. From 1 June all estate agents selling homes with HIPs will have to belong to an approved scheme, providing consumers who are treated unfairly with access to free, independent redress. Further information is available on the OEA website >>
Home Information Pack (HIP) update January 2007
Press Release from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Click for press release in new browser window >>
Realcom comment: It looks like HIPs is still a long way from being finalised. The emphasis seems to have shifted from making it easier for buyers and sellers to do business to being part of the energy efficiency drive to tackle global warming.
This is something for which at present there is no formal certification process - except for new builds. However, it is something we will all have to deal with with higher fuel prices hitting us where it hurts.
It make sense to make your house as energy efficient as possible and when you are selling it to be able to show prospective buyers that your house will save them money in the long run.
However, in the same way that owners of polder houses have to decide whether it’s worth replacing bathrooms and putting down wood floors in order to attract buyers, they will have to decide whether it is worth spending money on condensing boilers and extra insulation to compete with the new builds.
Energy Performance Certificates
An Energy Performance Certificate will provide buyers and sellers with A-G ratings on their homes, similar to fridge ratings, as well as a list of practical measures to cut their fuel bills and carbon emissions. By acting on the recommendations listed in the Energy Performance Certificate, the average homeowner is expected to save £300 a year on fuel bills and help to reduce the 27% of the UK’s carbon emissions currently generated by our homes.
There is an official web site with the current plans. Home Information Pack web site >>
Check out Energy Saving ideas at The Energy Saving Trust www.est.org.uk/myhome/
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