home-information-pack
HIP report may recommend security and fire assessment
The Home Information Pack report may include proposals for a fire and security assessment of homes to be included, the Home Affairs Select Committee heard last week. Also, Northgate slashes lodgement fees and Richard Branson warns of oil crunch in 5 years.
Home Information Pack debate in Parliament
The War of Surveys continue to warp parliamentary process and decision-making, as evidenced in the House of Commons debate on Home Information Packs yesterday.
VID: EPC news in five minutes
A new experiment to bring you a round-up of EPC news in five minutes or less, using video! Today, CLG statement on non-compliance in commercial; more HIP reform critics; CLG/Accred docs for download; and DECs on non-dom consultation.
Why Home Information Packs are wrong
HIP reformers take note: the Home Information Pack is failing the people and your industry has ignored Domestic Energy Assessors. In short, HIP reform from the industry itself cannot be trusted by neither parties.
EPC numbers: Analysing the huge discrepancy
There is a massive gap between yesterday's reported EPC numbers from John Healey and those made on the HCR Register which reveals a gulf between marketed sales and other areas of EPC provision, possibly.
Estate Agent Today Sucks
Why Estate Agent Today (EAT) sucks and how the topic of Home Information Packs is used to wind-up estate agents, IMO.
AHIPP v Simon Roberts Solicitor
AHIPP gets with the YouTube generation by producing a video proclaiming the virtues of the Home Information Pack. Meanwhile, solicitor Simon Roberts has his own thoughts on HIPs too.
Trading Standards Question Dodged by Housing Minister
The new Housing Minister, John Healey, not only blatantly ignores a question on the performance of TSOs, but basically says they can do what they want - but what does that mean in light of last year's public relations disaster in Birmingham?
666 The Name of the HIP
Homeowner upset after Home Info Pack missed some haunting details.
CLG Spent Almost £1.5m Promoting Home Information Packs
Almost £1.5 million was spent in the financial year 2008-09, Margaret Beckett has revealed.
The Media Assault Begins - April 6th HIP Changes
Yesterday BBC's Working Lunch landed a punch on Trevor Kent. Today, Channel 4 News commissions a completely biased survey.
Tories to AHIPP: We ‘will scrap bureaucratic HIPs’
Tory shadow housing minister, Grant Shapps, is to tell AHIPP this evening that his party will scrap HIPs
Around 1.2 Million HIPs Issued
Some 1.2 million Home Information Packs have been issued, said CLG minister, Margaret Beckett today as she came under attack from Tory ministers.
Competition for EPCs and HIPs on Google
The competition for advert space on Google Adsense for the key-phrase [Energy Performance Certificate] is huge - 201 ads! Time for a bit of research methinks
HIPs: First Day Marketing Extended Again - Why!
So Government has done it again: First Day Marketing is to be extended until April 5th 2009. It has also announced the introduction of PIQs (Property Information Questionaires) on the same day plus a few other measures discussed herein with the occassional comment from IPPA (Independent Pack Providers Association).
CLG HIP Report Published - An Overview
The CLG quietly published an interim report into the operation of Home Information Packs, Energy Performance Certificates and Home Condition Reports last Friday. Here is a more in-depth overview of its findings which I actually believe is fairly constructive overall
Tories May Leave Home Information Packs Alone
An adviser to Grant Shapps - Tory shadow housing minister - says the party may change its plans to abolish HIPs by 2010
Another New Housing Minister: Margaret Beckett
Margaret Beckett replaced Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, in Gordon Brown's latest reshuffle - the fourth minister in around 18 months! But we also have a new department of energy and climate change too, so where is this going? Who is running the gaff now?
CLG Guide: Oct 1st EPC & HIP Regulation Changes
The CLG has published its guide to the October 1st 2008 changes to the Energy Performance Certificate and Home Information Pack regulations - at last! Also, approved methodologies for EPC and DEC production were published this week, including approved software applications for SAP 2005, SBEM, DSM and ORCalc.
EPC Data Gatherers in Parliament
Tory shadow minister Grant Shapps receives clarification on the use of EPC data gatherers plus answers on property information questionnaires and the shelf life of Home Information Packs
CLG: No HIPs Review During Market Slump
Housing Minister Caroline Flint on Wednesday ruled out any Home Information Pack review until after the housing market returns to normal conditions, she told Lib Dem Mark Oaten in a written parliamentary answer
Suspend Home Information Packs Demand Tories
Grant Shapps, Tory Shadow Housing Minister, wants Gordon Brown to suspend Home Information Packs. He lists five reasons, but two of them appear to be the same ones repeated!
HIPs: First Day Marketing Set for 1st Jan 2009
The DCLG has confirmed that First Day Marketing will begin 1st January 2009, ending the current temporary provisions allowing homes to be marketed without an Home Information Pack, providing one has been commissioned.
CLG Extend Energy Performance Certificate Validity to Three Years
The CLG has today announced that Energy Performance Certificates within a Home Information Pack will, from October 1st 2008, be valid for three years. Non-domestic EPC requirements set back until 4th January 2009 - bang up to the EU limit - and... no clarification of the mass confusion surrounding the domestic and rental transitional EPC arrangements!
Brick-maker Closes UK Factories
More bad data dumped on the shoulders of property professionals this week - when brick-makers close, you know that is not a good omen for on-construction domestic energy assessors. Also fewer new domestic homesellers... we know the rest
AHIPP to Lose Deputy Director General
Paul Broadhead will leave AHIPP in October to single-handedly halt the credit crunch in his new role as Head of Mortgage Policy at the Building Societies Association (BSA)
Leave Caroline Alone Gordon (or David)!
Why Caroline Flint should remain Housing Minister
CLG Consultations: Searches and Consumer HIP Information
The CLG released two more consultation documents to stuff-up your holidays this week: Charges for Property Searches and Improved Consumer Information in the Home Information Pack (HIP). Enjoy!
AHIPP: Quest to Find New Chairman Succeeds
Tom Parker, managing director of Quest, becomes chairman of Association of Home Information Pack Providers
Home Information Packs: CLG Considering Improvements
Ways to improve the Home Information Pack are being considered by Caroline Flint, according to an interview in Tribune Magazine. A homeowners' questionnaire is one idea under discussion.
Parliament: RdSAP Limitations, Update and Home Information Packs Mis-Sold?
Home-buyers know when Home Information Packs are unreliable so commission their own independently, according to group of lawyers. Are they right, or being mis-sold? RdSAP anomalies exposed by architect: Energy Performance Certificate ratings "flawed". CLG announce RdSAP update from September: pay rise, or pay cut? Lots to look at in this House of Commons debate.
Move to Abolish HIPs Fails
A Tory amendment to abolish Home Information Packs (HIPs) failed yesterday in the House of Lords by 19 votes. Also, Baroness Ford reveals that house-builders want the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) diluted
Will Govt's £100bn Energy Announcement Bolster EPCs?
The Government is expected to unveil a £100bn package of measures to reduce energy consumption and C02 emissions next week - Good news for Domestic Energy Assessors? Will Energy Performance Certificates be freed from the Home Information Packs?
Home Condition Reports Possible if Voluntary Uptake Flops
Home Condition Reports may become a mandatory part of the Home Information Pack if voluntary take-up flops, according to Housing Minister, Caroline Flint in a written reply to Lembit Opik of the Lib Dems. Previously, HCRs would be reviewed, now there appears to be at least a partial condition attached
Home Information Pack threatens Govt targets and energy security
The Energy Performance Certificate must be released from the Home Information Pack to effect urgent wholesale change to our existing housing stock - not to mention meet the Government's own targets.
Lib Dems ask for Home Inspector Numbers & HCR Status
Housing Minister reveals lastest number of Home Inspectors (822) in answer to Lib Dem questions asking if Home Condition Reports will ever make it into Home Information Packs (HIPs)
BRE to Launch White Label Home Information Pack (HIP)
BRE will soon launch its own white label Home Information Pack (HIP) to Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA), this site can reveal.
Estate Agent Warns Against Using HIP Provider
An estate agent on the Isle of Wight is claiming that a lot of estate agents are profiteering on the back of Home Information Packs (HIPs). It warns home sellers against instructing agencies using one particular HIP provider.
Independent Pack Providers Association (IPPA) Launched
A new body hoping to represent the independent Home Information Pack provider launched yesterday. The Independent Pack Providers Association (IPPA) was setup by the growing army of Domestic Energy Assessors and Home Inspectors forced into providing HIPs because of low fees... but you have to prove your worth to join!
HIP Complaint: Ombudsman Warning to Estate Agents
The Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA) received its first formal complaint earlier this year against an estate agent chasing payment for a Home Information Pack (HIP) after the vendor - believing it was free - terminated their services. The OEA issues a warning... or is it advice?!
