HIP HIP Hooray: Home Information Packs On Hold
THE monumental disaster that is the Government’s ill-conceived Home Information Pack scheme was thrown into even more disarray yesterday after the Government’s Minister for Opus Dei, Ruth Kelly, performed an embarrassing climbdown and put the whole scheme on hold.
The controversial sellers’ packs, which include all kinds of property details and an energy-efficiency rating, will still be introduced, although two months late and only for houses with four or more bedrooms.
Critics have now warned that wily estate agents and house sellers could try to escape the £300-£600 cost of a HIP by categorising their fourth bedroom as a study or a boxroom or maybe even a transcendental meditation space, thus adding more chaos to the situation.
Kelly blamed a lack of accredited inspectors needed to carry out the energy performance certificates despite the fact that only last week her deputy, Yvette Cooper, dismissed criticism that there wouldn’t be enough snoops.
So where does that leave all those home sellers who rushed through sales in order to dodge paying for a HIP?
But on a brighter note, journalists and sub-editors appreciate the opportunity for some easy puns.
No details, as yet, have been released on whether or not there will be a HIP replacement…
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:42 pm
I don’t understand what the problem is, the HIP will not only make it easier for buyers to choose a property but it will be cheaper in the long run for the sellers as any buyer that makes an offer, does so with all the facts in front of them, leaving no reason for any abortive costs further down the line. Finally a straight forward way to buy/sell a house!
On top of that, the surveyors should be pleased, as currently only 1 in 5 homes are being surveyed and with a home condition report (a non-invasive investigation) there will be plenty of ‘further investigation may be necessary’ comments made which should drum up more business for the surveyors! Why on earth are they complaining?!
All this is just because the narrow minded majority can’t stand change, and that’s why we will continue to destroy our beloved planet. Do they know the world is not actually flat?!
May 24th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Ironic that it is the governments own Energy report data base that has limited the ability to lodge EPCs!
Come the 1st August there will be less capacity in terms of Energy Assessors as many were made redundant yestaterday as firms were not prepared to fund a further 3 months with no income and no certainty after that. also many admin/ data input staff have also been made redundant already.
If you had a family and a mortgage to pay wouldn’t you go out and get a proper job now?
May 24th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
It’s heartening to see these packs that were due to be forced on everyone against most peoples freedom of choice, have been dealt a major setback.
This Government should not have tried forcing ill thought out, money making further Red tape burdens on already heavily taxed and stressed private homeowners.
It really is fast becoming a nanny state, and their unwanted involvement in a persons private rights to sell their property should be scrapped totally.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Hi
You know the only ones who going to make money out of HIPs were these tin pot course providers.
Charging up to £3000 for a distance lerning course that as a value should have been no more than £300
I feel sorry for all those who have thrown money away like this.
Chris
June 4th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
hi, i looked into becoming a home inspector after seeing an advert for this in the local free paper, had a phone interview & was asked along for a personal interview, had the spiel, did an aptitude test and hey presto was offered a place on their course, unfortunately the cost was £8800 (yes a whopping 8 grand) and even then it was subsidised as they were recruiting people to work for there own firm (hiphiphooray.com) but after carefull forethought i decided not to take them up, there sums didn’t seem to tally up, what they promised from the estimated 2million homes being put on the market every year was definate leads for you to follow up, but there would be a minimum requirement of 28 home condition reports or 56 energy assessments per month (or a mix of the 2) over an 11 month period, but there were no gaurantees. if that was the case there would need to be between 3500 & 6000 inspectors, well at the last count there are approx 7500 in training people will not be making as much money as they think & also a price has not been set as yet. i think there are a lot cheaper courses available and that is the way to go, but i’m still pessemistic
June 13th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
This has been a shambles in the making for months and years! With only a few days to go the government realises and puts them on hold - only to make the situation worse by confusing the issue with four bedroom houses (the definition being..?). They do not actually serve a single purpose other than adding bureaucracy and cost to the seller. Another fine mess if you ask me. I am running a poll on the matter for those interested… http://www.pickinglosers.co.uk/
July 31st, 2007 at 11:19 pm
[...] Jul WITH the controversial Home Information Packs set to come into use this week, the Telegraph is claiming that the Labour Party and its members are [...]