HIPs for all homes by December 14

Housing minister Yvette Cooper has announced that Home Information Packs will be required for all homes by December 14.

The announcement that the final roll-out of the packs, which contain an Energy Performance Certificate, local authority searches and title deeds, has been met with mixed reactions.

Paul Broadhead, deputy director general of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers, said: “The final phase of the roll-out will be gratefully received by our members, who were beginning to feel the pressure following the government’s recent delay. We can now start to significantly improve the energy efficiency of our homes.”

However, Warren Bright, chief executive of propertyfinder.com, was less welcoming. He said: “Estate agents across the country can see that Home Information Packs are simply not delivering and want them abolished. Sellers don’t know what they are and buyers ignore them. Now this discredited scheme is being extended to all properties, the confusion will only deepen.”

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