Thursday 20th May 2010
It has now (today) been confirmed that HOME INFORMATION PACKS ARE SUSPENDED FROM FRIDAY 21st MAY 2010…
You will however, still require a EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) – which should only cost around £60.00, instead of the £300-£500 that some Estate Agents were charging vendor’s for the HIPs. (further information will follow – as soon as it is released!)
14th May 2010:
“Rumour Has It”
The Conservative Government has already signed an order to ABOLISH the Home Information Pack, with an expected suspension being due from Friday 21st May 2010. It is however, anticipated that they (the Conservatives) will keep the requirement for the Energy Performance Certificate. So, if you are in Worcestershire & considering selling your home, we suggest that you hang-fire (wait-a-few-days!) As soon as the information is in the public domain – we will update this notice..!!
Grant Shapps (Conservative Housing Minister) promises you more of a say on who & what can be built within your area, and also promises to abolish the requirement for the Home Information Pack – which was brought-in by the Labour Government whilst in power. Watch the Video below..!!
The Facts (Rules and Regulations) about the Governments Energy Performance Certificates, which you (By Law) have to have commissioned (prior to marketing your property) are detailed below. To “read more” about any of the following – just “click” on the title to expand..!!
From the 21st May 2010 – the British Government suspended the requirement for Home Information Packs, but made it a compulsory requirement for homeowners (the seller or Agent) to provide any prospective purchaser (buyer/tenant) with access to an Energy Performance Certificate for the residential property.
You (or your Estate Agent) must instruct an Accredited Energy Assessor to provide an energy performance assessment on your property. Local EPC providers can be found in our “Property-Pros” directory, or via other online publications.
The EPC should be provided or shown to potential buyers at the earliest opportunity, especially prior to entering into a contract to sell the property.
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives home owners, tenants and buyers information on the energy efficiency of their property. New homes sold ‘off-plan’ will need to include a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA). The PEA should be replaced by an EPC when construction of the property is complete.
The Code for Sustainable Homes measures the environmental impact of a new home against nine categories. The code requirements only apply to new homes where a local council has received a building notice, initial notice or full plans application after 1 May 2008. Newly built homes must have a certificate (or interim certificate) showing the sustainability of the home assessed against the standards under the Code for Sustainable Homes, OR a nil-rated certificate where the property has not been assessed against the Code.
The penalty for not providing an Energy Performance Certificate is fixed at £200. With an average EPC costing around £60 – there really is no need to try & bluff your way through. EPC’s should really be available to prospective purchasers within 28 days of marketing your property.
Once you have commissioned your EPC, it will be valid for a period of 10 (ten) years. However, if your property is subject to any improvements which may increase the energy performance rating – this should make it more appealing to future purchasers (or tenants), so ideally – you would commission a new EPC.
