Insurance News Archive

Minister defends Hips

Housing minister Yvette Fielding today described the imminent introduction of home information packs (Hips) as being "in the interests of the consumer".

Describing the purchase of a new home as "the biggest purchase most of us ever make", Ms Fielding described the packs, which will become a compulsory feature of home selling from June 1st 2007, as possessing "useful information".

Expected to cost between £300 and £1,000, the packs have been introduced to speed up the housing market process in England and Wales, according to the government.

Speaking to GMTV, Ms Fielding said that while there had been regular developments made in a number of other fields in the UK, including the technology sector, the housing market had not experienced any reforms for 25 years.

"We want to see those kind of competitive reforms in home buying and selling - it is in the interest of the consumer," she added.

Noting that Hips would also require a home energy performance certificate, which would denote the efficiency of a property, Ms Fielding also outlined how there would be "plenty" of energy inspectors to carry out the required work by June.

19 Apr 2007