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Home Information Packs
As 1st June 2007 commencement date approaches for the introduction of Home Information Pakcs (HIPs), the revised Home Information Pack Regulations 2007 were laid before Parliament yesterday (29th March) morning. The new Regulations incorporate comments from the consultation carried out in January as well as discussions and research which has been ongoing. The key revisions to the regulations include the following: As Home Condition Reports will now form a voluntary part of the HIPs, rather than being mandatory as originally proposed,the exceptions which were provided for previously are no longer required. A seller will be able to market their property without having to first wait for local authority searches and any relevant leasehold information to include in the HIP as it has become evident from trials that receipt of this information can often be delayed. This information must be included in the HIP within 28 days from when marketing of the property first commenced. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will now be the first document in the HIP after the index to encourage potential buyers to read and take note of this information. Where properties are still being built, energy performance information in the form of a predicted energy assessment will be required in HIPs for such properties as EPCs do not apply to such buildings under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections)(England and Wales) Regulations 2007. In addition, where properties have been recently constructed energy information can be provided on an interim basis (until 16th September 2007) as it has been indicated that it would be difficult to accurately produce an EPC until the method used to calculate energy performance has been altered to take account of the 2006 changes to Part L of the Building Regulations 2000. If a property has already been put on the market by 1st June 2006 (when HIPs come into force), such properties do not need to have a HIP up to 31st December 2007 (orginally 31st October 2007). If however the property remains on the market after this date, a HIP will be required.
31 Mar 07 13:40
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