Communities and Local Government Select
Committee evidence: further information on Home Information Packs
Following my appearance to give evidence to
the Committee on Monday 29 October, I committed to provide further
information regarding the stakeholders on HIPs and on the results
of the area trials, specifically relating to the HCR. You have
also asked a number of follow up questions, which I will deal
with first.
ROLL OUT
You asked a number of questions regarding the
Government's intention to roll out HIPs to all properties. Today
I announced the roll out of Home Information Packs to all existing
properties from 14th December 2007.
Home Information Packs with Energy Performance
Certificates were introduced for 4+ bedroom properties on 1 August
and from 10 September for sales of 3 bedroom properties, covering
over 60% of the market. The Government has taken a careful and
considered approach before each stage of the rollout, based on
the three criteria we set in June and informed by the evidence
available from our monitoring. Despite the recent difficulties
in the financial market, our early evidence points to a smooth
introduction of HIPs for 3 bedroom properties. Some concerns have
been expressed over the cost and time of obtaining leasehold documents.
However, more work is needed before we can verify the extent of
any problem around costs. That is why I have announced my intention
to lay amending regulations retaining the lease as a required
document while all other leasehold documents will become authorised
for inclusion in the pack, for a temporary period until 1 June
2008.
The rollout of HIPs to all remaining properties
will ensure that every consumer is able to benefit from the HIP
and EPC. For the first time, every buyer can expect to receive
a HIP for the property they wish to buy, no matter what the size.
This is particularly good news for first time buyers who currently
face high upfront costs in the home buying and selling process.
The introduction of HIPs will reduce their entry costs, helping
them to get a foothold on the property ladder.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
You also asked about the EPCs for social housing.
So far, approximately 100,000 EPCs have been carried out as part
of these pilots, covering over 100 projects. We are currently
evaluating the results of the pilot to inform rollout to that
sector in October 2008.
In relation to the setting of a `drop dead date',
we have always said that this will be set in the light of market
conditions as HIPs bed in. Once HIPs have been introduced for
all properties we will consider the setting of this date.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You have asked for further information in relation
to the area trials. As I explained on 29 October, this information
is taking longer than we had hoped and will be available by the
end of the year.
Finally, I promised to give you more information
on the membership of the Stakeholder Panel during my evidence
and I now attach a list of those organisations represented on
the panel at Annex A.
A. Cambell
pp. Yvette Cooper
Annex A: Representative
organisations on the stakeholder panel
Association of Home Information Pack Providers
(AHIPP)
National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
Which?
Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML)
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)/ Friends of
the Earth (FoE)/ Green Buildings Alliance (GBA)
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Law Society
The Council of Property Search Organisations
(CoPSO)
Land Registry
Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory
Reform (BERR)
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