Future of HIPs uncertain

The future of HIPs looks even more uncertain after comments made by Caroline Flint MP on Radio 4’s Any Questions programme this Friday.

Caroline Flint, who took over as housing minister from Yvette Cooper on 30 Jan this year, commented that several areas of the current HIP system are under review. It is also clear that the government may look to changing the date for HIPs to become compulsory on all properties before they are put on the market.

The minister said; “We’re looking at the issue around when HIPs should come into play at market or later on. But the main thing is I’ll be looking at making sure that we don’t create an unnecessary obstacle.”

This answer seems to insinuate that the government are not committed to the 1 June introduction date for all properties going to market, a date that had already being pushed back from the 1 Jan by the previous housing minister.

This throws HIPs into even more uncertainty. Since the system was introduced last year many components originally intended to be compulsory have fallen by the wayside such as the house condition report, which is now optional. It looks as if other elements may be removed from the pack as well.

The minister said; “There is a lot of other issues that we should look at in terms of streamlining the process and that is a work in progress in the department.”

One element of the pack, however, received unanimous support from the panel, the energy performance certificate. It was seen as an invaluable document in light of rising fuel bills and the energy inefficiency of British homes.

Steve Webb Lib Dem Spokesman on the Environment, Energy, Food and Rural Affairs said; “There is one redeeming feature of the home information packs, which you’d need to keep, which is the energy audit.”

Since their introduction in 2007 HIPs have proved controversial; accused of being overpriced, unnecessary and detrimental to the housing market.

Be the first to comment

Nobody has made any comments on this entry - be the first to have your say below.




More Recent News

  • New Year same trouble Alex Coxall 6 Jan. 2009 The 2009 RICS forecast predicts a further fall this year of 10% in average property price, which would mean a peak to trough drop of 25%. The predictions are based on the continued reluctance of lenders to lend and the increasingly glum economic climate we are facing. Read more
  • Darling considers credit guarantees Bloomberg.com 11 Dec. 2008 Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling is considering credit guarantees for households and companies to spur bank lending, a person familiar with the plan said. Read more
  • Rics figures show November fall Alex Coxall 11 Dec. 2008 Figures released by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) show that property prices have continued to decline during November. Read more
  • Price drop slows slightly Alex Coxall 27 Nov. 2008 The rate of house price drop fell in November according to figures released by Nationwide today. The market however remains nearly 14 % lower than it was a year ago, as buyers remain worried and lending remains curbed. Read more
  • Housing market Downfall 27 Nov. 2008 Famous scene from an award winning film reworked. Read more
More news