December 14^th is the date that all 1 and 2 bedroom homes will require a Home information Pack. Save £350 by marketing your home with Ince Williamson before that date. Call 01257 269955 to arrange a free valuation.

THINKING OF SELLING? We advertise your home on www.rightmove.co.uk www.primelocation.co.uk

www.fish4homes.co.uk and www.propertytoday.co.uk Giving your home 24/7 exposure nationally and worldwide!

 .

Home Information Packs:

After the controversial announcement, a delayed release and a lot of debate, HIPs are finally here. But do you know what they're all about? If you don't know, now's the time to find out as it could affect you…

What are HIPs?

HIP stands for Home Information Pack and from the 1st Aug, all homes in England and Wales with four bedrooms or more, will require one along with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in order to sell a property. Smaller properties will be required to have a HIP in due course.

HIPs can be arranged by Ince Williamson.

The packs do come at an expense. They can cost around £400 but how much you pay is dependant on who you commission to carry out the assessment.
If you are buying a home, a HIP will be available to you read in our office but there will be a charge to take away a hard copy.

"Given the serious threat from climate change, it would not have been acceptable for energy certificates to be subject to long legal delays and uncertainty." - Housing Minister Yvette Cooper

Why the delay?

For the original date of June 1st to be implemented, the amount of energy assessors (people who check the energy efficiency rating) would have needed to be at the 2,000 mark. As of June 1st 2007, only 520 were qualified to carry out the assessment.

As the system is being phased in throughout the year, the programme will ensure the numbers of assessors matches the demand.

Why do we need them?

The introduction of HIPs is the Government's way of tackling the effects of climate change. The hope is that they will help reduce energy bills and will cut carbon emissions by nearly a million tonnes each year say the Government.

Larger homes have been distinguished as being more responsible for emitting unnecessary energy which is why these properties have been initially targeted say the Government.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said:
"Energy ratings for homes will help cut carbon emissions and family fuel bills. Given the serious threat from climate change, it would not have been acceptable for energy certificates to be subject to long legal delays and uncertainty."