The debate began with Mr. Andrew Robathan, a Conservative, asking the question:
‘What assessment he has made of the effect of home information packs on the housing market since their introduction?’
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Mr. Ian Austin, responded by saying:
‘We are currently working up proposals to evaluate the effectiveness of the HIPs programme, and we expect the results to be available in 2010. However, early independent research undertaken by Europe Economics and published in November 2007 concluded that the introduction of HIPs would not have a negative impact on the housing market.’
Not happy with this Robathan then resorted to Party line language by inquiring:
‘Those constituents who raised the matter with me tell me that they find HIPs to be untimely, expensive, and bureaucratic and, really, a waste of time. They quite like the energy performance certificates, so will the Government realise the error of their ways, realise what a waste of time-time, effort and money-the process has been, and scrap it?’
It’s questionable whether his constituents were consulted and if they were whether anybody within his Party took the time out to explain the purpose of the HIP and the benefits they present. Fortunately Mr Austin took the opportunity to inform Robathan of this as well as belittling his intelligence in the process!
Mr Austin adopting his usual direct approach responded by saying:
‘The hon. Gentleman does not need to ask ludicrous questions like that to confirm to the House that he is not exactly the sharpest tool in the box. However, thousands of jobs and hundreds of small businesses depend on the HIP process. Some 13,000 people have invested thousands in training as energy assessors, so the Opposition need to explain why they would put all those jobs and all those businesses at risk, and the hon. Gentleman needs to explain to all the people in his constituency whose livelihoods depend on that process why he wants to put them out of work’.
He added:
‘The Leader of the Opposition swans off to the Arctic to hang around with huskies, but the hon. Gentleman and the Opposition are showing today why nobody will take seriously anything they say about climate change. As a result of HIPs, 2 million home owners now have an energy assessment and energy recommendations that can help them to cut their fuel bills by up to £300 and reduce carbon emissions. Is it not extraordinary that even today, as the world gathers in Copenhagen, the Opposition are still committed to abolishing the HIP, which is one of the main ways of helping home owners to cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change?’
How refreshing to see the Government stand up for an industry that has worked hard to implement well intentioned policy that despite a rocky start is beginning to deliver real benefits to the consumer as well as making a major and important contribution towards carbon reduction. Grant Shapps should pause, take note and decide whether obsessively pursuing the HIP is really worth the risk of his policy backfiring and causing damage to his career aspirations.
The EPC recommendations are pointless; no-one looks at them let alone acts on them.
ReplyDeleteJust because 13,000 of you lot were stupid enough to invest c.£3-4,000 in a spastic 'training' (money-making) scheme doesn't mean you're entitled to lifelong employment, especially if you're doing a worthless job.
This 'well intentioned policy' is overly complex, wasteful, distorts an already difficult market and is just unnecessary.
It seems really odd for an industry to gun for the next Housing Minister so aggressively - are you aiming for even more painful treatment?
Thank you for your comment. I agree it is fair for views to be expressed whether they are supportive or not. I do take exception however to those who wish to express views without disclosing their identity. If you believe strongly in what you are saying why not tell us who you are? What is there to fear?
ReplyDeleteOne needs to go back to why HIPs were first implemented.
ReplyDelete1) To raise awareness of the Energy Performance Certificate - using the HIP as the vehicle to deliver this information (which it does)
2) Secondly to speed up transactions by providing a lot of information 'up front' to prospective purchasers (should they wish to view it) to avoid surprises at a later date (which is does)
Costs for HIPs have dropped dramatically due to healthy competition (which is good) but with the cost implication of having to buy a HIP prior to marketing, it avoids those time wasting people who like to "test the market" and put their home on sale with no intention of selling!
Good all round I think. Good comments David.
I am currently a HIP provider employing about 11 people and we have worked hard to built this business up. I wish to point out that the majority of our clients consider the HIP to be another process in selling their property and has now accepted this. A large majority consider the HIPs to be an essential tool in providing important information about the property they are purchasing. Part of the HIPs information is similar to a car V5 log book, as you will very rarely purchase a car without this. The HIP information provides information on who is the owner of the property, the land, giving dates etc. Therefore would you purchase a property, which cost much more than a car (in most cases), without this information! In addition the HIP information can now be used for your conveyancing part which means that you don't have to pay for disbursements later on. The only additional cost is basically the EPC. I would also like to point out that a large part of the HIP cost goes to the Local Authority which means that they are earning additonal revenue and if the Conservatives plan to get rid of HIPs, how are they going to compensate the Local Authority's loss in revenue from the HIPs? The Local Authority will charge on average £130 per HIP and we as HIP providers only get on average £10 per pack for putting the pack together which involves about 1 hour labour time.
ReplyDeleteAfter voting for Conservatives for twenty years, I will be voting for the party that will save my business, job and other people's jobs.
I don't think it's that easier to simply scrap HIPs. This is just an other out of synch attitude of conservatives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment, sent on the 9 March 2010 01:25
ReplyDeleteHIPs will likely to be rebranded, at a lower cost.
Regards
LP