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Hips deadline delayed

Tuesday, 22 May 2007 12:00 AM

The government has delayed the introduction of home information packs (Hips) today and announced widespread changes to the way the packs will be implemented.

Hips were due to be mandatory for all properties going on the market from June 1st 2007, but as a result of legal action from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (full story) and a lack of qualified energy assessors, the government has had to do a U-turn on its plans.

There will now be a stage-by-stage implementation of the packs. From August 1st 2007 homes with four bedrooms or more will be required to have a Hip, with more properties needing Hips by the end of the year.

Additionally, until the end of the year sellers will be able to market their properties as soon as they commission a Hip - rather than when they have received the packs as before.

And in a move set to save sellers money, the energy performance certificate part of the packs will now be valid for 12 months rather than the proposed three months, but only as a temporary measure.

"We have reached a pragmatic way forward," said Ruth Kelly, communities secretary.

She added: "The number of assessors is unlikely to meet our needs and will not be enough to meet demand."

She noted there were currently 520 fully accredited energy assessors, and a minimum of 2,000 would be needed for June 1st, with a further 500 needed by the end of June.

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