property-careers.com calls on Yvette Cooper to accelerate HIPs roll-out

In a meeting with the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) Stephen Callaghan , Chief Executive of property-careers.com, has called on Cabinet Minister Yvette to lay down the commencement order to allow HIPs for three bedroom properties to go live on 1st September - exactly one month after HIPs will be mandatory for homes with four bedrooms or more.

This follows news yesterday that just one more energy assessor is needed for the Government to meet its target to make Home Information Packs (HIPs) a reality for properties with three bedrooms or more.

According to the most recent figures from AHIPP, there are now 1,321 fully accredited Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) and 678 fully registered Home Inspectors, ready to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) required in HIPs, taking the current total up to 1,999.

The Government has specified 2,000 assessors will be required to ensure the successful implementation of HIPs for three as well as four bedroom plus homes. As a consequence, property-careers.com has now called on the Cabinet Housing Minister Yvette Cooper to lay down the commencement order, which is essential to extend mandatory HIPs to three bedroom homes, before parliament goes into recess.

In another positive development, the House of Lords yesterday backed the government's continued drive to make sure Home Information Packs are launched on August 1.

Stephen Callaghan said: "The House of Lords vote combined with these recent figures are really encouraging. Crucially, when the next Commencement Order is laid down this will extend the available market to over 60% of the UK housing stock. Such news is vital to ensure that EPC Business Exchanges such as the-energy-portal are able to provide access to the widest possible marketplace for the benefit of its DEA and HI members."

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