Tax & Accounting News

End of the line for HIPs

27/05/2010

Home Information Packs (HIPs) will no longer be needed in order to sell a home after the new government acted quickly to remove the requirement.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles laid an Order suspending HIPs with immediate effect, ahead of legislation for their permanent abolition.

Since both the Conservatives and the Lib Dems had committed themselves to abolishing HIPs, it was feared that any delay would damage the housing market as sellers waited for the requirement to be removed.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) – which had formed part of HIPs and are required under EU law – will still need to be provided within 28 days of a property going on the market.