They were initially due for introduction at the beginning of June, but on 23 May just one week before the packs were due to go live Ruth Kelly announced a last minute about-face after months of criticism from all sides.
Now the way looks clear for the delayed 1 August launch, even after last weeks majority vote against them in the House of Lords. Baroness Hanham spoke out against HIPs, asserting that the initiative had gone spectacularly wrong and that the government had ploughed on regardless, even though the whole process does not look as if it will be a benefit to buyers.
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The motion against was carried by a majority of 26 but is unlikely to put a spanner in the works at this late stage. Indeed Mike Ockenden commented: While the vote went against the latest HIP regulations, it was not fatal and will not hinder the Governments resolve to introduce HIPs as planned.
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There are now 1,999 fully accredited energy assessors ready to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for 1 August. These figures show that we are just one assessor away from reaching the Governments target of the 2,000 assessors, which are needed to extend the phased implementation of HIPs to properties with three bedrooms or more.
After their launch on 1 August the packs will be phased in, starting with the sales of three and four-bedroom houses. In addition to this change, sellers will only have to commission a pack before putting their house on the market, rather than making sure they had a completed one before attempting to sell.
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