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Hips forced a 'bunker mentality' Hips forced a 'bunker mentality'
(2 days later)
The government had a "bunker mentality" on Home Information Packs (Hips) prior to Tuesday's policy climbdown, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) says.The government had a "bunker mentality" on Home Information Packs (Hips) prior to Tuesday's policy climbdown, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) says.
Michael Coogan, head of the CML, said housing minister Yvette Cooper had not "managed things well" and must "learn from mistakes." On Tuesday the government delayed their launch as a result of legal problems.
It comes as the Tories called for Ms Cooper's resignation saying the Hips policy had "completely collapsed". The CML said housing minister Yvette Cooper had not managed the plans well and must "learn from mistakes."
On Tuesday the government announced a two-month delay to the start of Hips. But the Department for Communities and Local Government rejected the claims, saying it wanted Hips introduced as soon as possible.
Initially, only four-bedroom homes will have to have a Hip. "We reject suggestions that our approach was wrong," a government spokesman said.
There was a bunker mentality... The compelling reasons we gave for delay were ignored Michael Coogan, CML
The government said that when resources are in place Hips would be extended to other types of property.
Public rowPublic row
The run-up to the announcement of a delay to Hips was marked by a very public row between the government and housing industry groups. The decision to push back, and scale down, the introduction of Hips followed a legal challenge by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors seeking a judicial review.
Bodies representing estate agents, mortgage lenders, surveyors, banks and solicitors all called for a delay to the introduction of Hips. There was a bunker mentality... The compelling reasons we gave for delay were ignored Michael Coogan, CML
They argued there were not enough energy assessors in place to ensure a successful start to Hips. It was the culmination of a very public row between the government and housing industry groups representing estate agents, mortgage lenders, surveyors, banks and solicitors.
Last week, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) turned up the heat by seeking a judicial review of Hips. CML chief Michael Coogan told the BBC that the government's approach had been wrong.
This review was cited by the government as a key reason for a delay.
PACKS WILL INCLUDE Evidence of titleCopies of planning, listed building or building regulations consentsA local searchGuarantees for any work on the propertyAn energy performance certificate. Q&A: Home packs A home inspector's tale However, at the time that the review was announced the housing minister brushed aside criticism as coming from "vested interests".
'Mistakes'
Mr Coogan told the BBC that the government's approach had been wrong.
"It was not managed well," he said. "There was a failure to recognise that those bodies in favour of Hips also had a vested interest."It was not managed well," he said. "There was a failure to recognise that those bodies in favour of Hips also had a vested interest.
"There was a bunker mentality... The compelling reasons we gave for delay were ignored."There was a bunker mentality... The compelling reasons we gave for delay were ignored.
I know the walls of the bunker are pretty thick but haven't you noticed this policy has completely collapsed? David Cameron to Tony Blair
"Instead the government ploughed on and chose divide and rule, seeing all the bodies that had real concerns separately.""Instead the government ploughed on and chose divide and rule, seeing all the bodies that had real concerns separately."
As for whether Ms Cooper's credibility with housing market bodies had been irrevocably damaged, Mr Coogan said that the industry "has to work with the ministers we are given". He hoped housing ministers would "learn from their mistakes", he said.
But he hoped the government would "learn from its mistakes". Green groups' support
The Department for Communities and Local Government has been approached for its response. Industry groups had urged the government to delay the introduction of Hips as they argued there were not enough energy assessors in place to ensure a successful start to the new system.
But the DCLG stressed its plans for energy performance certificates remained a priority.
"We wanted home energy ratings to be introduced at the earliest opportunity, given the importance of tackling climate change and cutting carbon emissions from homes," the spokesman said.
"Our approach was strongly backed by green groups."
PACKS WILL INCLUDE Evidence of titleCopies of planning, listed building or building regulations consentsA local searchGuarantees for any work on the propertyAn energy performance certificate. Q&A: Home packs A home inspector's tale
Tuesday's decision to delay the launch of Hips by two months, he said, had largely been the result of the Rics court case.
The packs will now initially apply only to houses with four or more bedrooms, to be extended to other types of property once the resources are in place.
'Chaos''Chaos'
At Wednesday's Prime Minister's Question Time, Tory leader David Cameron called for Housing Minister Yvette Cooper to be sacked.At Wednesday's Prime Minister's Question Time, Tory leader David Cameron called for Housing Minister Yvette Cooper to be sacked.
He said Ms Cooper had led MPs to believe that there were 1,100 registered home inspectors ready to go.He said Ms Cooper had led MPs to believe that there were 1,100 registered home inspectors ready to go.
"Yesterday, it was admitted that there were less than half of that. Never mind what the next Prime Minister's going to do. What on earth is she still doing in her job?" I know the walls of the bunker are pretty thick but haven't you noticed this policy has completely collapsed? David Cameron to Tony Blair
"Yesterday, it was admitted that there were less than half of that. Never mind what the next prime minister's going to do. What on earth is she still doing in her job?"
He added: "I know the walls of the bunker are pretty thick but haven't you noticed this policy has completely collapsed?He added: "I know the walls of the bunker are pretty thick but haven't you noticed this policy has completely collapsed?
"You said you have so much to do in your dying weeks - yet HIPs are in chaos." "You said you have so much to do in your dying weeks - yet Hips are in chaos."
Mr Blair said over 3,000 assessors had passed their exams and could now get accreditation. But the DCLG claimed Mr Cameron had misunderstood the facts.
He told Mr Cameron: "You say you support energy performance certificates. Isn't it sensible to make their introduction at the point of sale for a house so that the buyer can see what measures they can take to protect the environment. "The figures given last week on energy assessors were absolutely correct," a spokesman said.
"After all 25% of CO2 emissions come from households. Why are you opposed to this measure if you support EPCs?" '"As last week's statement made clear, the 1,100 figure was the number 'accredited or their accreditation was being processed'."
And at question time, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Hips made sense from an environmental point of view - a subject supposedly close to Mr Cameron's heart.
He told Mr Cameron: "You say you support energy performance certificates. Isn't it sensible to make their introduction at the point of sale for a house so that the buyer can see what measures they can take to protect the environment?
"After all, 25% of CO2 emissions come from households. Why are you opposed to this measure if you support EPCs?"