| Home Information Pack (HIP) *SUSPENDED* | Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) still required |
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The Government has announced the suspension of Home Information Packs with immediate effect from 21 May 2010 pending primary legislation for a permanent abolition. It is therefore NO LONGER a requirement for the seller to obtain a Home Information Pack (also known as a HIP). However The Energy Performance Certificate, otherwise known as an EPC will be retained. Sellers will still be required to commission, but won't need to have received an EPC before marketing their property. An EPC provides an energy rating for a home and also recommends ways in which the property could be improved to increase efficiency. It is part of a series of measures being introduced across Europe in an effort to cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change.An EPC is required when a property is built, rented or sold, unless that property is a place of worship, a building which will only be used temporarily, stand alone buildings with total useful floor area of less than 50 metres squared (that aren’t used to provide living accommodation for a single household), industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that don't use a lot of energy Produced by accredited energy assessors, part of the EPC includes a report which lists the potential rating that your home could achieve, if you made changes. You could use this information to:
It may make suggestions such as fitting energy saving light bulbs or adding more insulation to the loft in order to save energy. You do not have to act on the recommendations in the report, however it could make your property more attractive to potential buyers if you do so. The certificate will show ratings for the building from A to G. (A being the most efficient). On average properties seem to be within the D range, although this is expected to improve. We can obtain an Energy Performance Certificate for your property from as little as £75. |
