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Home Information Packs Suspended

The announcement has just been made that HIPs are to be suspended with immediate effect. In the detail notes that accompanied the announcement it states that the requirement to provide a HIP is removed from 21st May. We are waiting for clarification from Trading Standards but expect that they will advise that it is with effect from now. The full statement can be seen by clicking here

The requirement to have an EPC produced remains with responsibility on the Agent to ensure it has been ordered.

The following is an extract from the announcement notes concerning the EPC.

In order to ensure that people selling their homes continue to make an Energy Performance Certificate available to prospective buyers, we have also laid before Parliament the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 which introduce a number of new requirements including:
  • a new duty on the seller to secure that an energy performance certificate (EPC) has been commissioned before marketing of the property commences where no such certificate is already available

  • an EPC has been commissioned when a Domestic Energy Assessor has been instructed to prepare the EPC and the EPC has either been paid for or has given a clear undertaking to pay for it

  • a new duty on the person acting on behalf of the seller to be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned before commencing marketing

     
  • a new duty on both the seller and a person acting on their behalf to make reasonable efforts to secure an EPC within 28 days

all of the new duties carry fixed penalties where somebody fails in the duty conferred on them by the new regulations

We are closely monitoring the situation and will broadcast information as it becomes available.  Thank you.

The process above is extracted from S I 2007 No. 991 Part 2 section 5&6. Enforcement measures are detailed in Part 7 section 43.1.a.i, for dwellings the penalty charge notice is £200.

Please see our FAQ section for more information or click here.
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