Britons encouraged by Hips

Information and advice contained within Home information packs (Hips) is likely to encourage Britons to make energy-efficient alterations to their properties, even if they are reluctant to pay so much for the scheme, it has been advised.

A study by London & Country has found that 78 per cent of respondents believed that Hips, with an average cost of between £300 and £350, did not represent value for money.

However, 68 per cent said that they would be likely to make changes to their property based on the advice contained within the packs' Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

"As more and more people in a chain become familiar with both providing and using Hips, customer attitudes towards them should hopefully improve. We may also see some reduction in cost as they become more widespread," commented London and Country mortgage specialist James Cotton.

The government has yet to announce the date on which properties with one or two bedrooms will require a Hip to be sold, despite the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) having said that they should do so.



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