HIPS To Cover 3 Bedroom Homes

Communities Minister, Baroness Andrews, has announced that the phased implementation of Home Information Pack's (HIPs) will be extended to to all properties with three bedrooms or more if they are put on the market on or after 10th September 2007.

The reason for HIPs being introduced on a phased basis is to ensure a smooth transition in the housing market. Following the introduction of the packs with four bedrooms and above on 1 August 2007, concerns have been raised about the number of qualified energy assessors currently awaiting work. However, with HIPs now a reality for three bedroom homes, the Government has confirmed there will be enough energy assessors, both nationally and regionally, to cope with the extra work.

Critics have accused the government of rushing to extend the scheme before having a chance to evaluate whether the packs were working well for four-bedroom homes.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which earlier this year threatened the government with a legal challenge over its alleged failure to consult properly on the scheme, accused ministers of having “no idea” how the Hips extension would affect the housing market. “We find it hard to believe that the government is pressing ahead with this policy at such short notice, without first conducting a proper market impact study,” it said. The Tories said many more buyers and sellers would face extra cost and bureaucracy.