The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) and energy-assessors.com have defended HIPs, claiming critics were deliberately misleading the public with lies that amounted to ‘political point scoring’.
Download our news ticker
Paul Broadhead, deputy director general of AHIPP, warned: “The suggestions surrounding energy assessor numbers and the predicted market impact of HIPs are ridiculous. They are nothing more than an irresponsible attempt by those who oppose HIPs to scare consumers and impair this much needed reform for their own or political gain.
“The idea that there will not be enough energy assessors on 1 June is untrue and unsubstantiated, while the suggestion HIPs will cost £1,000 is a total fabrication. HIPs will cost in the region of £300-£500, including the Energy Performance Certificate.”
Stephen Callaghan, director of energy-assessors.com, said: “The government has officially confirmed there are approximately 3,000 domestic energy assessors in training. These assessors will be more than capable of meeting requirements on 1 June.
Get the daily news delivered to your inbox
“It is high time the home buying and selling public is given the facts, rather than being fed misinformation by organisations with vested interests in attempting to scupper this new legislation.”
However, Thomas Reeh, chief executive of blackandwhite.co.uk, maintained the concerns surrounding HIPs were valid.
He commented: “The back bone of HIPs, the Home Condition Report, has been removed and I question the need for them. For that key part to not be mandatory is ridiculous. HIPs will add another step to the house buying process and by definition that will slow things down. This could affect people’s livelihoods.”
