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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| D-day for home information packs | D-day for home information packs |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Home Information Packs (Hips), paid for by house sellers, have been introduced in England and Wales. | Home Information Packs (Hips), paid for by house sellers, have been introduced in England and Wales. |
| The packs - intended to speed up sales - contain title deeds, local searches and an energy performance certificate, and cost about £400-£700 to compile. | The packs - intended to speed up sales - contain title deeds, local searches and an energy performance certificate, and cost about £400-£700 to compile. |
| Initially, only properties with four or more bedrooms will have to have a Hip but the government plans to extend the scheme to all properties soon. | Initially, only properties with four or more bedrooms will have to have a Hip but the government plans to extend the scheme to all properties soon. |
| Critics argue Hips make house-selling more expensive and bureaucratic. | Critics argue Hips make house-selling more expensive and bureaucratic. |
| Scotland is set to get its own version of Hips in 2008. | Scotland is set to get its own version of Hips in 2008. |
| Delay | Delay |
| Originally the government planned to introduce Hips for all houses put up for sale in England and Wales from 1 June. | Originally the government planned to introduce Hips for all houses put up for sale in England and Wales from 1 June. |
| However, the introduction was postponed by two months and the initial roll-out limited to properties with four or more bedrooms. | However, the introduction was postponed by two months and the initial roll-out limited to properties with four or more bedrooms. |
| 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: Hips explained class="" href="/1/hi/business/6926358.stm"> Training to be an inspector | |
| The government said Hips were delayed because there were too few qualified inspectors to produce energy performance certificates, a key component of the packs. | The government said Hips were delayed because there were too few qualified inspectors to produce energy performance certificates, a key component of the packs. |
| Industry groups and opposition political parties have been vehemently opposed to the introduction of Hips. | Industry groups and opposition political parties have been vehemently opposed to the introduction of Hips. |
| The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), the Law Society, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Council of Mortgage Lenders have all called for Hips to be overhauled or scrapped entirely. | The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), the Law Society, the National Association of Estate Agents and the Council of Mortgage Lenders have all called for Hips to be overhauled or scrapped entirely. |
| Critics' objections to Hips include: | Critics' objections to Hips include: |
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| Rics said it was "committed to the implementation of energy performance certificates and improving the carbon footprint of homes across the UK." | Rics said it was "committed to the implementation of energy performance certificates and improving the carbon footprint of homes across the UK." |
| Nevertheless, the group added that there were "uncertainties in the legislation, and the number and geographical spread of energy inspectors across the UK". | Nevertheless, the group added that there were "uncertainties in the legislation, and the number and geographical spread of energy inspectors across the UK". |
| In response, the government has said that Hips will speed up the house selling process and give buyers key information about the energy efficiency of their properties. | In response, the government has said that Hips will speed up the house selling process and give buyers key information about the energy efficiency of their properties. |
| "The home buying and selling process has not changed for a generation - consumers are currently getting a bad deal," a Communities and Local Government spokesman said. | "The home buying and selling process has not changed for a generation - consumers are currently getting a bad deal," a Communities and Local Government spokesman said. |
| "Home Information Packs and energy certificates will cut nearly a million tonnes of carbon a year, lower family fuel bills by hundreds of pounds and help to reduce the millions of pounds wasted by consumers when buying and selling their homes," he added. | "Home Information Packs and energy certificates will cut nearly a million tonnes of carbon a year, lower family fuel bills by hundreds of pounds and help to reduce the millions of pounds wasted by consumers when buying and selling their homes," he added. |
| Housing Minister Yvette Cooper told the BBC that Hips would make the house buying process "more transparent and clearer." | Housing Minister Yvette Cooper told the BBC that Hips would make the house buying process "more transparent and clearer." |
| And according to the Association of Home Information Pack Providers, the government has reached its target of having more than 2,000 accredited inspectors trained to produce energy performance certificates. | And according to the Association of Home Information Pack Providers, the government has reached its target of having more than 2,000 accredited inspectors trained to produce energy performance certificates. |
| If an agent fails to comply, this could trigger an investigation into an agent's fitness to continue estate agency work Mike Haley, OFT | If an agent fails to comply, this could trigger an investigation into an agent's fitness to continue estate agency work Mike Haley, OFT |
| Penalties | Penalties |
| The penalties for putting a property up for sale without a Hip can be severe. | The penalties for putting a property up for sale without a Hip can be severe. |
| Homeowners who have not commissioned a Hip by the time they market their property can face fines of up to £200 a day. | Homeowners who have not commissioned a Hip by the time they market their property can face fines of up to £200 a day. |
| On Tuesday, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) warned estate agents that if they failed to comply with Hip rules and sold properties without a pack, they could be put out of business. | On Tuesday, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) warned estate agents that if they failed to comply with Hip rules and sold properties without a pack, they could be put out of business. |
| "If an agent fails to comply, this could trigger an investigation into an agent's fitness to continue estate agency work," said Mike Haley, OFT Head of Consumer Protection. | "If an agent fails to comply, this could trigger an investigation into an agent's fitness to continue estate agency work," said Mike Haley, OFT Head of Consumer Protection. |
| The OFT's stance has drawn fire from some estate agents. | The OFT's stance has drawn fire from some estate agents. |
| "There is a lot of confusion out there amongst sellers and estate agents," Trevor Kent, former head of the National Association of Estate Agents told BBC News. | "There is a lot of confusion out there amongst sellers and estate agents," Trevor Kent, former head of the National Association of Estate Agents told BBC News. |
| "After all the delays, some agents genuinely do not think that Hips are going ahead... To go threatening to take people's livelihoods off them is too much," he added. | "After all the delays, some agents genuinely do not think that Hips are going ahead... To go threatening to take people's livelihoods off them is too much," he added. |
| What do you think of Home Information Packs? Are they a good idea? Are you worried about the cost? Send us your comments using the form below. | What do you think of Home Information Packs? Are they a good idea? Are you worried about the cost? Send us your comments using the form below. |