Re: RIP HIPs?


"Tommo" <sxt2000@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1179908349.583984.327290@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ruth Kelly called this a 'pragmatic solution' yesterday. I call it a
complete shambles. The Government has delayed the implementation of
HIPs following a legal challenge by the RICS.

This is the official press release:

<quote>

The Government is today announcing that we will be implementing Energy
Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Home Information Packs (HIPs) from
1 August instead of 1 June. The Government has also reached an
agreement with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on
their judicial review of Energy Performance Certificates.

The Judge, considering the application for Judicial Review by RICS,
had issued an Order preventing EPC's from being included in HIPs from
1 June until a court had fully considered the RICs application.

We did not consider it to be acceptable or practical to delay the
introduction of EPCs in this way.

We have always made clear greater transparency in the housing market
and tackling climate change goes hand in hand. In addition, we have
created a new energy assessor workforce - the majority of whom expect
to start work in June.

We have therefore been in negotiation with RICS in order to avoid a
lengthy delay as a result of the legal process. The Government can
today announce an agreement has been reached.

The Government will revise regulations and implement the following
changes -

HIPs and EPCs to start on August 1, implemented on a phased basis.

From August 1 packs - including energy performance certificates - will
be required for the sale of four bedroom properties and larger. These
are the properties which are the most energy inefficient. We will
phase in packs for smaller properties as sufficient energy assessors
become ready to start work.

Until the end of the year, we will allow people to market their
properties as soon as they have commissioned a pack - rather than
making them wait until they have received them.

As a temporary measure, we will allow EPCs to be up to twelve months
old when the property is put up for sale and will consult further on
the long-term arrangements for the age of EPCs.
We will also be inviting councils and registered social landlords to
work with us to introduce EPCs on a voluntary basis in social housing,
for example at the time of stock transfers. The Government will
therefore lead the way in efforts to tackle climate change, whilst
providing work for energy assessors in advance of the full
implementation of HIPs and EPCs.

Towards the end of the year we will assess the implementation of HIPs
and consider what further steps might be needed to maximise the
reduction in carbon emissions and drive forward the reform of home
buying and selling.

This assessment will be informed by the operation of the market from 1
August; by the results of the area trials; and by a further
consultation on the next steps in implementing HIPs and EPCs, which we
will begin in the summer.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said:

"We are pleased we have reached an agreement with RICs and potentially
avoided a lengthy court case and months of delays.

"The approach we have set-out preserves the principles of HIPs and
EPCs, while ensuring a transition period for the people buying and
selling their property. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity
to make real progress towards cutting carbon emissions from our
homes."

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said:

"Energy ratings for homes will help cut carbon emissions and family
fuel bills. Given the serious threat from climate change, it would not
have been acceptable for energy certificates to be subject to long
legal delays and uncertainty."

Today we are also publishing the latest figures on energy assessor
numbers, we now have 2,500 in training, a further 3,200 who have
passed their exams, and 1,500 who have been accredited or have applied
for accreditation but only 520 of these have been fully accredited.
For implementation on 1 June, we would need more than 2,000 to be
accredited.

Whilst more than enough are in the system, the current uncertainty
caused by this legal challenge and the campaign of misinformation by
opponents have had an impact on the numbers of energy assessors who
are waiting before paying out for accreditation. The phasing in of the
programme will ensure that the numbers of assessors matches the need
in the market place.


http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2427


to be dropped quietly, I should have thought. Another botched piece of
legislation will bite the dust.


.

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