Hips look likely to be extended to smaller homes


Fri 17th Aug, 11:45:14 BST

The government is set to go ahead with the next stage of the Home Information Pack (Hip) scheme, it has been reported.

While the legislation which came into effect at the start of this month meant that just four bedroom properties were liable to provide the £500 packs, ministers are now considering extending this to three bedroom homes before the end of the year.

Should the initiative go through, up to 11 million homeowners would have to provide a pack, which give prospective buyers information on energy efficiency, water connections and details of outstanding mortgage payments, should they wish to sell their property.

Following on from claims that the initial scheme is significantly flawed, not least due to a shortage of qualified surveyors, this proposed move has led to more opposition to the Hips scheme in general.

Eric Pickles, Tory shadow communities secretary, told the Daily Mail: "If it is the case that the scheme will soon be rolled out, then many more people will face the extra cost and bureaucracy of having to deal with this worthless document."

Just one in six of all homeowners believe that the introduction of Hips will serve to speed up the home-buying process according to a recent study by the website thinkproperty.com.



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