HIPs to become mandatory for every sale

by Richard Kilner

Story link: HIPs to become mandatory for every sale

Every property in England and Wales from 14 December will be required to include a Home Information Pack (HIP), the government has stated.

The HIPs have been in effect since September of this year, but only for three and four bedroom houses.

The government claims that first time buyers will benefit by the increased usage of HIPs, which it believes will lower costs and offer A-G green ratings which denote how environmentally friendly the house is and thus will help lower fuel costs and carbon emissions.

Those who buy homes ranked F or G (currently 20%) will be offered cut-price, or sometimes free, help to put measures into place which will improve the property’s energy efficiency. This assistance will be offered by the Green Homes Service, the creation of which the Prime Minister announced earlier this week.

In-depth detail relating to properties’ energy efficiency and an A-G rating will be presented in EPCs.

The Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper, has said that HIPs and EPCs will assist buyers by cutting their fuel costs by hundreds of pounds and lowering search costs.

She went on to say that every buyer will benefit from energy efficiency advice, with grants and other support available to those whose homes are ranked F or G.

The average cost of the scheme, which is still in its early stages, is approximately £300-£350. The costs existed pre-HIP in the buying and selling process, with the exception of the information contained within the EPC.