HIP Scrapped

A motion to scrap home information packs (HIPs) has been approved in the House of Lords, after a vote went narrowly against the Government.

The motion, which was approved by a vote of 180 to 160, is not fatal to the initiative however. Baroness Hanham for the Conservatives led the debate, and described HIPs as a “ridiculous policy”.

She added: “Without the energy performance certificate, what does the HIP give you? Remarkably little. It does not produce anything much and, despite all the efforts of the Minister and the Government, it still has not improved an enormous amount on the way through the system. There should be a complete rethink about the energy performance certificates. They should be introduced on their own. They should not be part of the HIP process, which does not look as if it will be of benefit to buyers.”

Mike Ockenden, director general of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers commented: “Despite this latest vote, which went against HIPs by a small majority, it is reassuring that Government’s resolve, has not been shaken. Clearly Tory politicising is not going to get in the way of delivering this vital reform to the benefit of consumers and the environment.”

Excerpt from Mortgage Solutions UK. 19.07.07