AHIPP responds to vote on HIPS in the House of Lords

Mike Ockenden, Director General, Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP), comments on yesterday’s vote on HIPs in the House of Lords: “While yesterday’s vote in the Lords, which went against the latest Home Information Pack (HIP) regulations was not fatal and will not hinder the Government’s resolve to introduce HIPs as planned on 1st August, it is disappointing that the Tories have once again made a political football out of packs.

“On the same day as the Lord’s voted against the HIP regulations, we announced the latest figures from the relevant accreditation bodies, which show that there are now 1,999 fully accredited energy assessors ready to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for the 1st August. These figures show that we are just one assessor away from reaching the Government’s target of the 2,000 assessors, which are needed to extend the phased implementation of HIPs to properties with three bedrooms or more.

“Despite this latest vote, which went against HIPs by a small majority, it is reassuring that Government’s resolve, has not been shaken. Clearly Tory politicising is not going to get in the way of delivering this vital reform to the benefit of consumers and the environment.”