HIPs to become law on August 1st
June 25, 2007
The Government has now laid the two sets of revised regulations necessary to deliver energy performance certificates (EPCs) and home information packs (HIPs) into the housing market on 1 August 2007.
The Home Information Pack (No.2) Regulations 2007 (SI 20007 No. 1667) and the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007 No. 1669) will both come into force on 2 July 2007.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said that EPCs and HIPs would be phased in starting with four-bedroom homes and larger properties, rolling out to other sized properties once sufficient energy inspectors are in place.
The Government says it expects to need 2000 accredited assessors and inspectors to introduce EPCs and HIPs to three-bedroom homes, with a total of 3000 needed to cover the whole market.
The Government has also welcomed a commitment from major HIP providers to guarantee an EPC and HIP to consumers within seven working days of a pack being commissioned. Consumers will receive a £100 refund on the pack if it is not produced in time.
Plans to introduce the packs and certificates have provoked controversy and met stiff opposition among various industry stakeholder groups. A recent legal challenge, which resulted in yet another delay, was just the latest setback for the Government along what has proved to be a very rocky road.
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