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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hips extended to three-bed homes | Hips extended to three-bed homes |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government has said it will extend its Home Information Pack scheme (Hips) to cover three-bedroom homes in England and Wales from 10 September 2007. | The government has said it will extend its Home Information Pack scheme (Hips) to cover three-bedroom homes in England and Wales from 10 September 2007. |
| Hips are intended to speed up house sales, but critics say it makes the process expensive and bureaucratic. | Hips are intended to speed up house sales, but critics say it makes the process expensive and bureaucratic. |
| They were introduced on 1 August for four-bedroom homes and contain title deeds, local searches and an energy performance certificate (EPCs). | They were introduced on 1 August for four-bedroom homes and contain title deeds, local searches and an energy performance certificate (EPCs). |
| Hips packs cost the seller about £400 and take roughly five days to compile. | Hips packs cost the seller about £400 and take roughly five days to compile. |
| Following the expansion of the scheme, 60% of the property market in England and Wales will be covered by Hips, the Department of Communities and Local Government said. | Following the expansion of the scheme, 60% of the property market in England and Wales will be covered by Hips, the Department of Communities and Local Government said. |
| Scotland is set to get its own version of Hips in 2008. | Scotland is set to get its own version of Hips in 2008. |
| 'As promised' | 'As promised' |
| The introduction of Hips was beset by problems, and the government delayed their introduction because there were not enough qualified inspectors to produce EPCs. | The introduction of Hips was beset by problems, and the government delayed their introduction because there were not enough qualified inspectors to produce EPCs. |
| 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 Training to be an inspector | 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 Training to be an inspector |
| Originally the government had wanted to introduce Hips for all houses put up for sale in England and Wales from 1 June. | Originally the government had wanted to introduce Hips for all houses put up for sale in England and Wales from 1 June. |
| However, in the end it pushed the starting date by two months and limited the initial roll-out to properties with four or more bedrooms. | However, in the end it pushed the starting date by two months and limited the initial roll-out to properties with four or more bedrooms. |
| On Friday, the government "confirmed there will be enough energy assessors, nationally and regionally, to roll out to three-bedroom homes next month, having taken into account the operation of Hips in the market". | On Friday, the government "confirmed there will be enough energy assessors, nationally and regionally, to roll out to three-bedroom homes next month, having taken into account the operation of Hips in the market". |
| It added that there would be a further announcement on rolling out Hips and EPCs to other properties "in due course". | It added that there would be a further announcement on rolling out Hips and EPCs to other properties "in due course". |
| Green savings | Green savings |
| Communities Minister Baroness Andrews said: "We are now ready to start rolling out Hips and EPCs to the next part of the market as promised." | Communities Minister Baroness Andrews said: "We are now ready to start rolling out Hips and EPCs to the next part of the market as promised." |
| "Hips and EPCs can help families to save hundreds of pounds off their fuel bills, and cut a million tonnes of carbon a year," she continued. | "Hips and EPCs can help families to save hundreds of pounds off their fuel bills, and cut a million tonnes of carbon a year," she continued. |
| "They also have the potential to reduce the millions of pounds wasted by consumers when buying and selling a home, by increasing transparency and competition in a process that hasn't changed for a generation." | "They also have the potential to reduce the millions of pounds wasted by consumers when buying and selling a home, by increasing transparency and competition in a process that hasn't changed for a generation." |
| Preliminary reports suggest a substantial reduction in the number of four bed properties coming onto the market Jeremy Leaf, spokesman for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors | |
| According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average consumer could cut their fuel bills by as much as £300 a year if they follow the recommendations in the EPCs. | According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average consumer could cut their fuel bills by as much as £300 a year if they follow the recommendations in the EPCs. |
| Originally, Hips were also intended to include a survey, but this was dropped after objections from businesses involved in the property industry. | Originally, Hips were also intended to include a survey, but this was dropped after objections from businesses involved in the property industry. |
| Some critics have also complained that there has not been enough research done into how Hips will affect the housing market. | |
| "The government has no idea how this will affect the housing market," said Jeremy Leaf, a spokesman for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. | |
| "We find it hard to believe that the government is pressing ahead with this policy at such short notice without first conducting a proper market impact study," he added. | |
| "Preliminary reports suggest a substantial reduction in the number of four bed properties coming onto the market." | |
| Are you a homeowner? Are you affected by this news? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you a homeowner? Are you affected by this news? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Name | Name |