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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tories call to scrap home packs | Tories call to scrap home packs |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives are making a House of Commons effort to kill off plans to introduce home information packs. | The Conservatives are making a House of Commons effort to kill off plans to introduce home information packs. |
| The government argues that packs will cut the number of transactions which fall through and encourage people to make homes more energy efficient. | The government argues that packs will cut the number of transactions which fall through and encourage people to make homes more energy efficient. |
| But the Tories say they will increase costs without achieving those goals. | But the Tories say they will increase costs without achieving those goals. |
| From 1 June, homes put up for sale in England and Wales must have a HIP with title deeds and an energy performance certificate, costing sellers £400-600. | From 1 June, homes put up for sale in England and Wales must have a HIP with title deeds and an energy performance certificate, costing sellers £400-600. |
| The Conservative motion, which will be debated on Wednesday from about 1245 BST, has been tabled by leader David Cameron and shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman. | The Conservative motion, which will be debated on Wednesday from about 1245 BST, has been tabled by leader David Cameron and shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman. |
| PACKS WILL INCLUDE Evidence of titleCopies of planning, listed building or building regulations consentsA local searchGuarantees for any work on the propertyAn energy performance certificate. Q&A: Home Information Packs | PACKS WILL INCLUDE Evidence of titleCopies of planning, listed building or building regulations consentsA local searchGuarantees for any work on the propertyAn energy performance certificate. Q&A: Home Information Packs |
| The party wants the energy performance certificates, which are included in HIPs, to be introduced separately. | The party wants the energy performance certificates, which are included in HIPs, to be introduced separately. |
| Energy performance certificates would give would-be buyers information on the property's energy efficiency, as well as tips on how the energy efficiency of their home can be improved. | Energy performance certificates would give would-be buyers information on the property's energy efficiency, as well as tips on how the energy efficiency of their home can be improved. |
| They would also ensure that the UK complies with an EU directive which comes into force in 2009. | They would also ensure that the UK complies with an EU directive which comes into force in 2009. |
| Ms Spelman said: "Conservatives have continually asked the government to press ahead with the implementation of energy performance certificates free from the additional red tape of the rest of the HIP regulations. | Ms Spelman said: "Conservatives have continually asked the government to press ahead with the implementation of energy performance certificates free from the additional red tape of the rest of the HIP regulations. |
| "In Northern Ireland the certificates are being implemented by the government without the introduction of Home Information Packs. Ministers should simply implement this directive without gold-plating." | "In Northern Ireland the certificates are being implemented by the government without the introduction of Home Information Packs. Ministers should simply implement this directive without gold-plating." |
| Judicial challenge | Judicial challenge |
| The Commons vote comes a day after Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said it would seek a judicial review because the government had not consulted properly on the law. | The Commons vote comes a day after Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said it would seek a judicial review because the government had not consulted properly on the law. |
| "It is unprecedented for a professional body to challenge the government in this way. It only emphasises how shambolic the government's handling of HIPs has been," said shadow housing minister Michael Gove. | "It is unprecedented for a professional body to challenge the government in this way. It only emphasises how shambolic the government's handling of HIPs has been," said shadow housing minister Michael Gove. |
| "It is still not too late for the government to think again in the interests of stability in the housing market. I hope they will use the debate to acknowledge their mistakes," he added. | "It is still not too late for the government to think again in the interests of stability in the housing market. I hope they will use the debate to acknowledge their mistakes," he added. |
| Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has called RICS "anti-consumer and anti-green". | Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has called RICS "anti-consumer and anti-green". |
| Ms Kelly called the legal challenge "groundless" and said the government would vigorously oppose it. | Ms Kelly called the legal challenge "groundless" and said the government would vigorously oppose it. |
| Are you buying or selling a house? What do you think of the Home Information Packs? Are they are a good idea? Are you worried about the cost? Should they be introduced at all? Send us your comments using the form below: | |