News - Hips are finally here

Home Information Packs (Hips) are being introduced into England and Wales from 1 August for all properties with four-bedrooms or more.
The whole idea of the packs has been controversial from the outset.

Some warn that it will add an unnecessary layer of expense and bureaucracy to the house selling process - but others argue that it brings much-needed transparency.

Here’s what the packs will mean for homeowners and the housing market.

I want to sell my house and was told that I will need a Home Information Pack. What are they?

The packs are to contain information that will be useful to any potential buyer.

Copies of title deeds, any recent planning permission or building consent given on the property, a local area search and an energy performance certificate will all be in the pack.

Under the rules, everyone marketing a property with four or more bedrooms has to commission a Hip.

Ultimately, the government wants all homes put up for sale in England and Wales to have a Hip.

Scotland is set to get its own version of Hips in 2008.
Energy performance certificates - what are they?

The idea of the certificate is that, at a glance, would-be buyers will be able to see the property’s energy efficiency - a bit like when they buy a fridge.

The homeowner will also be presented with some tips on how the energy efficiency of their home can be improved.

Energy performance certificates kill two birds with one stone - providing information for homebuyers and ensuring the UK complies with an EU directive which comes into force in 2009.

However, the cost of having a property’s energy performance assessed has been estimated at anything from £100 to £150.

Thousands are in training to become energy performance assessors, as the jargon has it, to inspect properties new to the market and issue certificates.

But only about 2,000 have so far been accredited.

Why are the packs being introduced?

Hips have been in the offing for a decade.

The Labour government went into the 1997 general election promising to introduce Hips, with the express intention of reducing the number of property sales which fall through.

The idea is simple: the more information that is presented to the buyer upfront, the slimmer the chance of a nasty surprise scuppering the sale further down the line.

I remember that originally Hips were meant to contain a structural survey - has that plan been dropped?

Yes.

Last year the government announced that Hips would, for the time being, not have to include a structural survey.

Many thought that dropping the requirement to have a survey would mean that the whole Hip project would be shelved.

However, the government has pressed on with Hips.

How will I organise getting a pack?

Some estate agents will offer to act as go-between for pack providers.

Alternatively, homeowners maybe able to approach pack providers direct.

I have read that these packs could cost up to £1,000 - is this true?

This is probably a bit of an overestimate - but you can probably expect to pay £400-£700 for a Hip.

Potential buyers will not have to contribute to the cost of a Hip.
Will the packs make the buying and selling process easier?

However, they may want to get their own local authority searches done and mortgage companies will still insist on a proper valuation.

I am buying a property. How much store should I set on the information in the pack?

The information will be useful but it may soon be out of date. Your solicitor may well advise that you get your own searches done.

Your mortgage provider may also want fresh property searches.

In other words, they may well disregard Hips

source: BBC

Facts HIPS Info News

News - 1 in 5 home owners make a conversion

One in five home owners have converted lofts or other areas into living space, partly to increase the value of their house, according to new research today.

A survey of 2,000 adults by AA Insurance found that attics were the most popular areas to be converted into a room, although some people transformed sheds or garages into a work space.

The average cost of a conversion was £10,300, although many of those questioned said they had spent less than £5,000 on the work.

Extra space
Janet Pell of AA Insurance said: ‘Many homeowners relish turning unused or ugly areas of their homes into liveable rooms as it means more space for family and less dusty boxes and clutter.’

source: Which

News

News - Home seller packs ‘to be delayed’

Critics say Home Information Packs will add to the cost of selling
The introduction of controversial Home Information Packs is set to be delayed by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly.
She will “update” MPs on the packs, due to be compulsory for anyone wanting to sell their home from 1 June.

The packs, which include an energy efficiency report, have been criticised by the Conservatives and face a legal challenge from surveyors.

Critics say they will increase costs without cutting the number of home sales which fall through.

There have also been concerns that there are not enough people trained to carry out the environmental checks on properties.

Under the changes homes put up for sale in England and Wales must have a pack, costing at least £300, with title deeds and an energy performance certificate.
Energy performance certificates would give sellers and would-be buyers information on the property’s energy efficiency, as well as tips on how the energy efficiency of the home could be improved.

They would also ensure that the UK complies with an EU directive which comes into force in 2009.

Shadow housing minister Michael Gove said: “The government’s plans for HIPs are unravelling. Ministers must now acknowledge that they have botched this from beginning to end.

“Now is the time to work with us in the interests of the housing market and combating climate change.”

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has previously accused the Tories of hypocrisy in not voting to support the packs, which he said would help the environment.
He said the Conservative had campaigned on a slogan of “vote blue, go green” yet failed to support government efforts to fight climate change.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has also sought a judicial review because the government had not consulted properly on the law.

Green

Jeremy Leaf from RICS said last week the packs would make it “more expensive and more difficult” for people to put their homes on the market, as well as being less “green” than they could be.
Among its criticisms were that there was a lack of trained staff ready for the 1 June implementation and called for a delay of a few months.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said 2,000 inspectors had already passed their exams, with another 3,000 in training.

Liberal Democrat local government spokesman Andrew Stunell said “government incompetence…had botched” the packs’ introduction, but his party, like the Conservatives, still support the energy certificates.

Environmental groups Friends of the Earth, WWF-UK and the Campaign to Protect Rural England want HiPs to go ahead because the energy certificates “can play an important role in tackling the UK’s contribution to climate change, as well as saving homeowners money”.

source: BBC

HIPS News

News - Changes to the Planning System

Plans to cut red tape and make it easier to build home extensions are expected to be announced by Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly next week.
A White Paper will propose an “impact” test for developments which would currently require planning permission. Under the proposals, such developments would no longer need permission where there is little impact on neighbours. At the same time, planning permission rules would be strengthened for local councils to deal with eyesore schemes.

Minor changes

The White Paper is expected to say that planning permission will no longer be required for minor developments, such as conservatories, extensions and micro-generation devices like solar panels, where it is clear they have little impact.

At present householders must go through the planning system if they have already extended the size of their properties, by more than 10% in the case of terraced houses for example.

This happens even where changes are very minor and there is clearly no impact on others. Instead, a new “impact” test would be introduced.

The White Paper will also include a raft of other measures to support householders’ desires to improve their homes and streamline cost and lengthy delays in the planning system.

Other measures include:

• Allowing minor amendments to be made to a planning permission without the need for a full planning application. This will be able to be done through negotiation with a local authority so, for example, the minor repositioning of a door would no longer need permission
• Streamlining information requirements for all applications with, for example, the introduction of a standard application form
• Introducing a new fast-track appeals system - streamlining the process for householders for appeals
  Ministers are concerned about the time and bureaucracy involved in deciding minor and uncontroversial applications.

The number of householder applications have risen by 114% since 1995 to almost 330,000 per year - and account for around half of applications overall.

These applications are also costly and cumbersome for local people. Currently a single seemingly routine planning application can take up to three months to be decided and cost up to £1,000 to resolve through costs for applications, plans and drawings.

Better focussed

Given that more than nine out of 10 of householder applications generally are finally agreed, ministers believe they are using up scare resources and clogging up the system.

They say these resources would be better focussed on dealing with more difficult decisions and strategic development for local areas, including building more homes for future generations.

It is believed the changes could reduce the number of applications by up to 90,000 per year - up to a maximum of a quarter of householder applications overall.

Ms Kelly will say: “The local planning system should support people’s aspirations to improve their homes rather than act as a barrier.

“Many people do not want to move but do want more room to bring up their kids, or to make minor home improvements or tackle climate change through microgeneration.

“We need changes to ensure the system is proportionate, whilst retaining clear, common-sense safeguards on noise, siting and size to protect neighbours.”

Urban sprawl

The secretary of state will also make clear that no-one undertaking such home improvements will be required to pay any additional council tax on their homes.

As well as slashing red tape for householders, key pillars of the planning White Paper are expected to include enhancing community consultation and engagement, a better decision-making process for handling major infrastructure projects, planning playing a bigger role in tackling climate change and ensuring planning supports vibrant town centres.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has said it fears the White Paper will further undermine the ability of planners to contain urban sprawl.

The organisation said the tone for the document was set by plans to build on about 10,000 acres of green belt land.

The CPRE named eight areas of England where draft plans exist for 19,150 houses and 6,500 acres of further development.

It described it as the “largest onslaught on the green belt for decades”.

The Department of Communities and Local Government said its record showed it could increase building on brownfield sites and protect the green belt.

source: BBC

News planning

News - B&Q sells Wind Turbines

A DIY chain is launching a new range of budget-priced wind turbines and solar panels from next month to help householders generate their own energy.

The turbines will cost £1,498 and fit on to domestic roofs and transmit electricity directly into household wiring, according to B&Q.

The solar panels, which come in packs of two, will cost the same.

Householders should ask their local council whether planning permission is needed for the 10ft-high wind turbines, the chain’s customer advice brochure says.

The company says householders should see the turbines pay for themselves within four to five years based on average wind speeds and current energy prices.

It’s also increasing its range of energy efficient devices such as low energy lightbulbs.

B&Q will sell the solar panels and the wind turbines from its larger stores and its website.

B&Q Chief Executive Ian Cheshire said: ‘B&Q is responding to a genuine consumer interest in environmental issues by helping everyone to see that taking a few simple steps can save money and the environment, at the same time.’

Electrical retailer Currys started selling solar panels as part of a trial scheme in the summer.

B&Q said the wind turbines, which are made in Scotland, could be eligible for a 30 per cent grant from the Energy Saving Trust.

The solar panels are made in Germany and Slovenia.

source: Which

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