Hips to cover all properties from Dec 14

Thursday, 22 November 2007 12:00 AM

The government announced today home information packs (Hips) will cover all properties in England and Wales from December 14th.

The controversial scheme was initiated on August 1st, covering properties with four-bedrooms or more and extended to incorporate three-bedroom houses on September 10th.

The scheme was originally scheduled for launch in July, but had to be postponed and introduced piecemeal after a shortage of qualified inspectors and resistance from the industry caused delays.

At present the scheme covers around 60 per cent of properties.

Today's announcement has extended the scheme to cover all properties, regardless of the number of bedrooms.

Commenting on the roll-out housing minister, Yvette Cooper, said: "Hips and energy performance certificates are already helping consumers to save hundreds of pounds on their fuel bills and are cutting search costs too.

"All homebuyers will be able to benefit from energy efficiency advice, with those receiving low green ratings of 'F' and 'G' especially targeted for support and grants to make improvements to cut their costs and carbon emissions."

The announcement has been welcomed and derided in equal measure.

"Today's announcement will be greeted with much enthusiasm and relief from the industry, which has been tirelessly campaigning for Hips to be fully extended across the whole market, since their extension to three bedroom homes back in September," said Jeff Smith, chief executive of HIP Payment Services.

"With speculation rife and various inaccuracies about the impact of Hips on the market being banded around by the Tories and other anti-Hip groups within the industry, it was essential the government reaffirmed its commitment to packs and announced this final and vital implementation."

"With Hips fully rolled out across the market they will finally be able to bring about the many benefits they were initially designed to achieve - a faster, more transparent process which will aid a more informed buying decision."

However the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), which has long opposed the scheme, argues Hips will further deter buyers from entering the market.

"With prospective buyers and sellers currently taking a 'wait and see' approach to moving, activity in the housing market is grinding to a halt," said Rics spokesperson, Jeremy Leaf.

"The housing minister needs to understand that rolling Hips out to one and two bed properties could find first-time-buyers caught between a rock and a hard place as accessibility to the market would go off the scale."

Hips are presently taking seven to ten days to prepare, according to the Department for Communities and Local Government - although the industry estimates a much longer period - and cost around £300.

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