Having delayed the original launch from 1 June to 1 August, for four-bed properties, Ruth Kelly, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government (CLG), confirmed her expectation that 3,000 home inspectors would be needed to cover the whole market. She added: “HIPs and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will provide an opportunity to make real progress on transforming the home buying and selling process in the interests of consumers and the environment. The approach will phase in the introduction of HIPs and EPCs while making early carbon savings from homes.”
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Karen Babington, sales and marketing director at Easier2move, gave a cautious welcome to the plans.
“The recent announcement from the CLG is a true confirmation of the government’s undertaking to make HIPs a reality.
However, while we agree that it is important to have the right personnel in place across the country before a true roll-out can take place, we are disappointed that no firmer dates are mentioned.”
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Mike Ockenden, director-general at the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP), said: “Kelly has provided much needed clarity for consumers, the industry and energy assessors and has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the future of HIPs.
“We now call upon all industries that touch the home buying and selling process to get behind the implementation of HIPs, in order to deliver the benefits to home sellers and buyers.”
