The Government has announced that from 14 December 2007, ALL properties put on the market in England and Wales will require a Home Information Pack (HIP) and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Currently, only three bedroom and larger properties require HIPS.
The EPC will rate homes on energy efficiency using a grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’ – similar to the current system for rating the energy efficiency of electrical apparatus.
Because of the difficulties in obtaining copies of leases – a requirement for HIPs where the title to the property is leasehold – the requirement that the lease must be included in the HIP for a 1 or 2 bedroom property is being delayed for a further six months.