U.K. Delays Energy Performance Certificates, Home Information Packs

June 21, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

EPCs and HIPs were originally slated for implementation on June 1. The government also announced an agreement with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on their judicial review of EPCs.

The delay was prompted by a ruling whereby a judge, who was considering the application for Judicial Review by RICS, issued an order preventing EPCs from being included in HIPs beginning June 1 until a court fully considered the RICs application.

The government said it was not acceptable or practical to delay the introduction of EPCs in this way, noting that greater transparency in the housing market and tackling climate change goes hand in hand.

The government also note the creation of a new energy assessor workforce - the majority of whom is expected to start work in June.

Negotiations were carried out with RICS to avoid a lengthy delay as a result of the legal process, the government said.

The government will revise regulations and implement the following changes:

• HIPs and EPCs will start on August 1, implemented on a phased basis. From August 1 packs - including EPCs - will be required for the sale of four bedroom properties and larger. These are the properties considered to be the most energy inefficient. Packs for smaller properties will be phased in as sufficient energy assessors become ready to start work.
• Until the end of the year, people will be allowed to market their properties as soon as they have commissioned a pack, rather than making them wait until the pack is received.
• As a temporary measure, EPCs will be allowed to be up to twelve months old when the property is put up for sale and will consult further on the long-term arrangements for the age of EPCs.
• Councils and registered social landlords will be invited to work with the government to introduce EPCs on a voluntary basis in social housing, for example at the time of stock transfers.

Towards the end of the year the government intends to assess the implementation of HIPs and consider what further steps might be needed to maximize the reduction in carbon emissions and drive forward the reform of home buying and selling.

This assessment will be informed by the operation of the market from August 1, by the results of the area trials and by a further consultation on the next steps in implementing HIPs and EPCs, which will begin in the summer.

The government also published the latest figures on energy assessor numbers:

• 2,500 in training.
• 3,200 who have passed their exams.
• 1,500 who are accredited or have applied for accreditation.
• 520 fully accredited.
• 2,000 must be accredited by June 1.

The phasing in of the program is expected to help ensure that the numbers of assessors matches the need in the market place, the government said.

Source: U.K. Communities and Local Government.