The truth about energy assessors and the cost of HIPs

A survey of 10 leading training and assessment centres for Home Inspectors and Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) shows that there will be in excess of 3,500 trained and accredited operatives by June 1st.

Opponents of Home Information Packs have erroneously reported that up to 7,500 energy assessors will be needed for 1st June and that there will be a shortfall of thousands. This figure became redundant on 18th July last year when Home Condition Reports (HCRs) were made voluntary, yet has been used erroneously and irresponsibly by some parties on a number of occasions recently. In fact, around 2,500 full time assessors will be needed by June.

“The training and assessment centres surveyed have told us that there will be at least 1,130 Home Inspectors and over 2,400 DEAs ready to undertake inspections for June,” said Mike Ockenden Director General of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP).

“The AHIPP survey did not include statistics from ‘Safe As’ the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) training and assessment centre which can be expected to significantly supplement these numbers.

“In fact with the number of DEAs qualifying the Government should seriously consider brining forward the implementation of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for rented properties and social housing.

“Furthermore the cost of a pack has frequently been mis-reported as being up to £1,000 but again this is an erroneous figure, designed to galvanise opposition to the packs. We cannot find a single provider quoting this amount.

“The actual figure will be between £300 - £400, inclusive of the cost of an EPC, in some cases regardless of whether the title is registered or unregistered. The whole range of price options can be verified by checking our website (hipassociation.co.uk) where the majority of our members, who are pack providers, have listed their charges,” adds Ockenden.

“Consumers and estate agents need to be informed about the facts not the lies and myths.”