Deadline on HIPs postponed

Following all the uncertainty with the looming launch date for the Home Information Buyers Packs, the government has climbed down. The implementation has now been put back until August 1.

There had been a lot of speculation as the original launch date of June 1st came closer, with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors announcing they had started judicial review proceedings against the Department for Communities and Local Government for its failure to carry out proper consultation before implementing the new legislation.

In an emergency announcement in the House of Commons, communities secretary Ruth Kelly blamed the postponement on the shortage of energy assessors. In addition she said that HIPs would initially only be needed on houses with four or more bedrooms.

The packs would become a requirement for smaller properties as more energy assessors were trained and available. Currently there are only 520 full accredited energey assesors, with the government's own figures showing that around 2500 would be needed by the end of June following a June 1st lauch.

HIPs will be phased in from August 1, starting with properties with four or more bedrooms. These account for just 17% of the whole of the property market. Sellers will also be allowed to market their properties without a HIP as long as one has been commissioned.

There has been widespread criticism of the government: after ten years in the planning they postpone the launch with just five days to go. Many people have invested money in business ventures and in training as assessors in the run-up to the launch and there are some who stand to lose a great deal.