HIPs Are Postponed Introduction of Home Information Packs has been delayed until August, will only apply to 'four-bedroom' houses, no certainty on when smaller houses will be included 23.05.07 Guardian, Property Law

Tory Lords Will Oppose HIPs As Commons votes for Home Information Packs to go ahead, opposition peers say they will attempt to block the measure Guardian Only half HIP inspectors will be ready for implementation in June 17.05.07 Daily Mail, Property Law

Energy Certs Will Be Renewable Residential property landlords will have to employ experts to rate properties for energy performance certificates, already part of Home Information Packs, might need to be renewed as often as every two years 09.05.07 Telegraph, Landlord and Tenant, Property Law

Lords Say Scrap HIPs Lords committee is calling on govt to drop its controversial Home Information Packs (HIPs), packs are mandatory from next month but there is little public awareness, a third of survey respondents think they are to do with immigration 02.05.07 Daily Mail, Law Society Press Release, Property Law

HIPs Heading for Chaos Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) claims regulations for Home Information Packs are 'impenetrable, unclear and contradictory', not enough inspectors to run the scheme 25.04.07 Telegraph, Property Law

No Criminal Check on HIPs Inspectors RICS has confirmed that it has no right to conduct criminal checks on individuals it authorises as Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs), fear criminals will infiltrate the system 16.04.07 Telegraph, Criminal Justice

Law Soc Rails at HIPs Law Society has joined RICS, Council of Mortgage Lenders and National Association of Estate Agents in writing to govt that implementation of Home Information Packs is 'chaotic, costly, damaging' RICS Govt refusing to meet with Law Society and other groups to discuss problems with HIPs 16.03.07 BBC, LegalDay Blog, Property Law

HIP Hop - Packs Are a Disaster Rules on Local authority search documents required in Home Information Packs are to be relaxed, Energy Performance Certificates are last mandatory requirement, these may not last as they come under fire from Better Regulation Commission as 'gold-plating' of EU law 12.03.07 Telegraph, Business Regulation, Property Law

What HIPs Will Not Do Some of the delights of Home Information Packs - you will have to pay for a Pack (average cost £500) before you can put your home on the market from June 1st this year, you will be liable to a daily fine of £200/500 if caught trying to sell your home without a Pack ... and so on ... 08.03.07 LegalDay Blog, Trevor Kent Press Release, Property Law

Call to Delay Home Energy Certificates Better Regulation Commission is calling for delay of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), main element remaining in Home Information Packs (HIPs), concern at rule on renewing EPC with every sale rather than once in 10 years 26.02.07 Telegraph, Business Regulation, Property Law