A Load of Hot AIR?

23rd November 2007

T. Wyn Jones

Whilst most of us in the property profession were assuming that the Government would delay implementing the next stage of the Home Information Packs (HIPS) Ms Yvette Cooper, Housing Minister, took us all by surprise by announcing on Thursday that as from the 14th December 1 & 2 bedroom properties would require a HIP.

This means that from December this year all residential properties placed on the open market will require a Home Information Pack (HIP), which includes the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

At present the Home Information Pack must be ordered before a property can be placed on the open market however, the recent announcement also states that from 1st June 2007 residential properties cannot be placed on the open market and advertised for sale until the Home Information Pack is in place.

Whilst there has been a considerable Government PR campaign regarding HIPS and the sale of residential properties not many people are aware of other developments, for example: -

· From 1st October 2008 any residential property offered “To Let” must have an Energy Performance Certificate.

· From 1st October 2008 all commercial properties offered “For Sale or “To Let” must have an Energy Performance Certificate with some larger buildings requiring an EPC as soon as 1st July.

I understand that stringent rules apply and that non-compliance can result in a criminal conviction plus swinging fines.

I cannot understand why this country applies these EU Directives with such vigour and employs vast numbers of people in Government departments to enforce the rules. Just take a look at the agricultural sector have you ever seen such ill thought iniquitous regulation regarding the Foot & Mouth and Blue Tongue outbreaks. Compare us to other EU countries do France and Italy let alone Lithuania and Latvia enforce EU Directives with such energy?

Another Government announcement included the recent statement by our Prime Minister that Britain will have to increase significantly the proportion of energy from renewable sources and that meeting the targets would require more offshore and onshore wind farms, greater use of energy derived from waste, a major expansion of energy from biomass and much greater use of microgeneration – including solar power. Further, he stated that “it will be for the private sector to make the necessary investment but the Government will do more to remove the planning and other obstacles that are currently holding renewables back”!

With specific reference to Wind Farms Gordon Brown stated : "I recognise that wind farms and other new energy installations are often seen as a burden on the local communities living near them, while the benefits go to society at large. So I want to explore how local communities can themselves benefit from the economic opportunities they create."

Is this a precursor to a change in direction by the Government? Are they looking to relax planning restrictions on windfarms and go down the route of Community owned energy generating projects? Hmm, I think we had better wait and see.