Home Information Packs (HIPs) Abolished From Today
Published: 20 May 2010 By MoneyHighStreet Staff 13 Comments
The Conservative and Lib Dem coalition government has abolished home information packs (HIPs) as from today, though sellers will still require an Energy Performance Certificate.
House sellers will be relieved to learn that as from today a HIP is no longer required before a house can be marketed. EU law does dictate that an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is still required, however.
With HIPs costing around £250, and being largely redundant in terms of assisting the smooth sale of a property, this is a move that is welcomed by house sellers and estate agents.
As Peter Bolton, Chief Executive of the National Association of Estate Agents comments: “the suspension of HIPs is very welcome news.
It will be greeted enthusiastically by both the housing market and house buyers, few of whom have paid much attention to these pointless packs.
It is also good news for sellers. They no longer need to shell out hundreds of pounds for a piece of pointless regulation that benefits no one.”
The requirement for an EPC, which will remain, can be bought for £100 so this will be less of a burden to the cost of selling a home, particularly for speculative sellers who may just be testing the market. It will also promote the drive for greater energy efficiency and minimising carbon footprints.
This is a point emphasised by Housing minister Grant Shapps, who said “We are committed to greener housing so from now on all that will be required will be a simple energy performance certificate.”
So today the government have suspended the HIP. Good riddance to it and all the agents and assessors making hey while the sun shined out of a crappy, ill thought out bit of legislation. Out of work assessors will just have to find another racket to jump onto to fleece hard pressed home owners out of their hard earned cash. Or perhaps they could find there true worth and try shelf stacking at Tesco?
well said it appears that sanity has returned to decision makers and maybe the easy target public may be getting a fairer deal
Brilliant news, do you no of any jobs going at Tesco, Barrie Taylor, seeing as my wife will be made redundant from tomorrow, here’s to the new government, more hard working people on the dole queue, that’s what I like to see!
Another thing, Barrie Taylor, do assessors and the staff behind them not have homes, bills and mortgages to pay for, just a thought, maybe there from outer space, same as where your brain lives!
Neil,
Sorry to hear your wife will lose her job, but by your argument we should create more pointless jobs just to get people off unemployment. What would you introduce? Maybe each street should have a pavement inspector – maybe you could create a couple of million jobs that way. GROW UP and see the bigger picture.
That’s a good idea; pavement inspector, my road and pavement are shocking, full of potholes, you should be in government my friend, you’ve got my backing!
The coalitions doing well, creating policy that will benefit society as a whole – and showing Labour had run out of ideas in the last few years. I do note that some pain will be caused to those who have failed to keep their long term eyes on potential changes in policy. Most I know, directly involved with HIPs, have expanded or adjusted their business plans to accommodate potential changes, and individuals have gained additional qualifications. To those who haven’t – Why? things change, especially with government policy!
Well thats great news for new sellers of property, but bad luck for anyone that has just shelled out for this useless piece of rubbish at a costly price!! Always the same for Jo Public – having to absorb all the cost again and now its not required, and not a refund in sight! Is that cos Cameron doesnt want to pay for one whilst moving into Downing St. ??? There is usually an alterior motive to these politicians.
Personally I dont think it has anything to do with politics it just good news : less money being wasted at a time when every pound counts .Good decision to save people money ! Lets stay away from political spleen venting
Can anyone tell me if HIPS are abolished in Scotland also.
Why!
The developer of my new property had the HIP (inc the EPC) compiled in 2009 – when the house was just a piece of rough land! – and so has whole section from the water company establishing that there was no mains water and no sewerage. What was the point of the developer paying for information based on land – not the subesequent property – and what benefit was this to me the puchaser of the house? It was never updated. Further, I had to chase up the EPC which is also currently a useless certificate – not worth the paper written on. The assessor did an Air Test to see how much air leaked naturally from the house and how long it took – but he blocked up all the fans and vents – so how can the result be based on normal use? He also stated there was no secondary heating – yet there is – a gas fire as well as gas CH. The fuel consumption is estimated (even when actual bills in older properties are proffered). All credibillity was finally lost when the issued document had the wrong house number on it!! My expensive solicitor was also indifferent and ignorant on all counts (even legal aspects) of these packs.
put my house on market beginning 2010 got hips done the week before it was abolished got no package then got new agent sold my with in a month now one year on i have got a bill for 400pounds for the hips from my first agent dont now how they found my address do i have to pay wecome comments