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HIPs postponed until 1 August

from "UK Landlord" magazine, July 2007

Following a recent legal challenge by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on the compulsory introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPs) [NLA factsheet], the Department for Communities and Local Government has delayed its plans for the implementation of HIPs and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) until 1 August this year.

The High Court accepted Secretary of State Ruth Kelly's proposal to phase in HIPs and EPCs gradually, beginning with the sale of properties with four or more bedrooms, which are the most energy inefficient. Packs for smaller properties are to follow once more home inspectors and energy assessors have been trained and accredited.

The delay was welcomed by RICS, given their concern over the state of both the operational implementation plan and the regulations governing the scheme. However, Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), dubbed the decision to phase in EPCs as "nonsensical", urging the Government to consider taking EPCs out of HIPs and implement them as a separate entity for all properties.

Further changes include until the end of the year allowing people to put their properties on the market as soon as they have commissioned an HIP, rather than having to wait until they have received it, and temporarily allowing EPCs to be up to twelve months old when the property is put up for sale.

The Government will also be collaborating with councils and social landlords to introduce EPCs on a voluntary basis.

Since there was no mention of the planned implementation of EPCs for landlords, it is assumed that there will be no delay to the October 2008 schedule for landlords and their agents to provide an Energy Performance Certificate as part of the letting process.

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