HIPS suspended

Home Information Packs have been suspended The Government has announced the suspension of Home Information Packs with immediate effect from 21 May 2010.

Homes marketed for sale on or after 21 May 2010 will no longer require a Home Information Pack (HIP).

Home information packs have finally been scrapped, but sellers will still need to provide an official energy efficiency assessment of their property.

The Conservative-Lib Dem Government has said that home sellers will no longer need to provide home information packs.

But due to EU law an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will still be required.

The move should cut around £250 off selling the average home. A full Hip costs around £350, while a standalone EPC can be sourced for £100.

Housing minister Grant Shapps said: 'Today the new Government is ensuring that home information packs are history. This is a great example of how we are determined to get straight down to work and cut pointless red tape which is strangling the market.

'By suspending home information packs today, it means that home sellers will be able to get on with marketing their home without having to shell out hundreds of pounds upfront.

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