Government to delay HIPs
Updated on 22 May 2007
Widespread criticism and the threat of a legal challenge force the government to delay its home information pack scheme.
It was supposed to take the misery out of buying and selling homes. But the home information pack scheme, which was 10 years in the making, has been effectively neutered.
So far it will only apply to larger properties. Home condition reports won't be mandatory. And there aren't enough energy assessors to carry out "green audits" on homes for sale.
One of the government's flagship housing policies is collapsing around its ears.
The heart had already been ripped out of home information packs when plans for mandatory surveys were shelved last year. Today all that remained of the packs was delayed just eight days before it became law.
Sellers won't now have to put together home information packs until 1 August, after a legal challenge by RICS, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
One of the government's flagship housing policies is collapsing around its ears.
But Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly insists the government will not abandon the packs altogether.
The government thought it had a deal with RICS to remove the threat of a lengthy legal challenge. But RICS insists that unless ministers meet its demands for a proper consultation on the packs, it will go back to the courts.
Experts say 7,000 trained insprectors will be needed, but the government disclosed today that just 520 were fully accredited.
Twice the government asked RICS to sign up to a joint press release announcing today's delay, and twice RICS refused.
RICS is concerned that there are too few trained inspectors to assess the energy audits sellers will be oblige to carry out. Experts say 7,000 will be needed, but the government disclosed today that just 520 were fully accredited.
Hundreds of trainee inspectors could be out of work. The industry is warning tonight that there may be more delays once further consultation has taken place and new regulations have been cleared by both the Commons and the Lords.
