Confusion reigns over Hip implementation

The House of Lords has called on the government to abandon forthcoming Home information packs (Hips), just a day after the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) announced that the packs could soon be extended to all properties after they come into force for homes with four bedrooms or more on August 1st.

Peers voted 186-160 in favour of the call to scrap the packs, a move welcomed by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).

"Even at this late stage, with the phased introduction of Hips due to start on the 1st of August, we yet again call on the government to proceed with the energy performance certificate – which we are in full support of – and to scrap the remainder of this ill-thought out pack," commented NAEA chief executive Peter Bolton King.

But AHIPP has described the vote as simple "Tory politicising".

"Despite this latest vote, which went against Hips by a small majority, it is reassuring that government’s resolve, has not been shaken. Clearly Tory politicising is not going to get in the way of delivering this vital reform to the benefit of consumers and the environment," commented AHIPP director general Mike Ockenden.


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