Despite opposition from the Conservative Party, the vote was won by 306 votes to 234.
Industry comments
Mike Ockenden, director-general of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP), commented: “Yet again, government has demonstrated its commitment to reducing the carbon emissions of our housing stock and to improving the house buying and selling process for consumers across England and Wales, through the implementation of HIPs.
“Industry is ready to deliver HIPs and the benefits that the packs will offer to both consumers and the environment. There will be enough energy assessors - our latest survey has identified that over 3,500 home inspectors and Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) will be ready to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPS) as of June this year.
“AHIPP and its members will continue to work towards the smooth implementation of the packs for the benefit of the consumer, the industry and the environment.”
Jeremy Leaf, spokesperson for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), said: "The debate highlights the need for immediate government action. The introduction of HIPs will have few benefits to the consumer and adversely affect the housing market and the wider economy. The government should be brave and postpone their flawed plans for home buying reform. By preventing this potentially damaging and chaotic policy Gordon Brown could give substance to his claim to lead a listening government."
Alan Dring, sales director at eConveyancer, commented: "Parliament has now voted to introduce HIPs and the time for debate and procrastination has therefore come to an end. HIPs have, without doubt, been an exercise in how not to introduce legislation but Parliament has confirmed today that they will happen, so we now need to focus on making them a benefit to homeowners and not the burden which many people have made them out to be.
"The debate in Parliament has achieved nothing, other than to perpetuate the uncertainty surrounding the introduction of HIPs. The same old arguments, which have already been debated many times before, were simply rolled-out once again. It would now be far more productive if everyone in the industry took a positive look at how they are going to make HIPs work to the advantage of their customers and their businesses, rather than expend further energy objecting to their introduction."
Paul Smith, chief executive of Spicerhaart Group, commented:
“The majority vote in favour of HIPs today is disappointing. The current regulations are in disarray. Given that the production of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is the only material justification for continuing with HIPs, it would be better to concentrate on putting a system in place for an efficient and timely production of EPCs, to ensure severe delays to marketing properties are avoided.
“The mandatory requirement to have an EPC in place prior to marketing will delay the homebuying process by weeks, as there are simply not enough trained energy assessors. HIPs add nothing to the process and, as they stand will be responsible for a significant downturn in the housing market.”
