HIP's suspended
25/05/2010 - Packs are no longer a requirement
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The Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and the Housing Minister Grant Shapps have announced the immediate suspension of the controversial Home Information Packs. Anyone selling a property will still be required to order an EPC but will not need to pay for the certificate. The government are still keen to incorporate energy efficiency in any future house building and sales.
The packs were very unpopular with home owners who were required to pay for the pack when selling a property. The Order has meant the packs are suspended immediately a little while before the required legislation to abolish the packs permanently is passed. Eric pickles said that he had taken swift action to avoid any uncertainty and to decrease any chance of a continuing slump in the housing market.
The HIP’s were introduced 13 years ago and were introduced to aid home buying and selling but have been controversial from the start. The loss of the packs will mean the end of the line to around 3,000 employees and a lost of millions to the Treasury in VAT receipts.
