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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tories call to scrap home packs | Tories call to scrap home packs |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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 the home could 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. |
| Jeremy Leaf from RICS said the HIPs would make it "more expensive and more difficult" for people to put their homes on the market, as well as being less "green" than they could be. | |
| Among its criticisms were that there was a lack of trained staff ready for the 1 June implementation and called for a delay of a few months. | |
| Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said 2,000 inspectors had already passed their exams, with another 3,000 in training. | |
| 'Like fridges' | |
| She dismissed RICS calls for a delay, saying: "We do think that given the threat from climate change that we need to get on with this as fast as possible. | |
| "The main element in the home information pack...is the energy performance certificate. It's giving you a fridge rating for your home - it¿s the kind of information we've always had on washing machines, dishwashers." | |
| She added: "We feel it is right that this information is done before you put your home on the market so that it can be there in the estate agents window...so that we get used to our homes being advertised in the same way that fridges are." | |
| 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: | 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: |