Hips rumours said to be untrue
(12 April 2007)

Recent rumours surrounding Home Information Packs (Hips) are "untrue" and are a "feeble attempt to misinform the public for private gain", it has been claimed.

While some potential house-buyers are being told that there will not be enough domestic energy assessors and that Hips will cost £1,000 each and have a negative impact on the housing market, the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has dismissed this as "political point scoring".

Paul Broadhead, deputy director general at the group, said that Hips will cost on average £300 to £500 for the mandatory pack, while all estate agents dealing with the packs will be obliged to join the statutory redress scheme.

He added: "The suggestion that there will not be enough energy assessors on June 1st is totally untrue and totally unsubstantiated.

"The current training coursesfor DEAs are bulging at the seams and a second tranche of trained energy assessors are expected to come though post June 1st - under no circumstances will we not have enough energy assessors."

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Spicerhart showed that just 20 per cent of consumers have seen the government's adverts for Hips, eight weeks before the scheme's mandatory roll-out, Easier reported.