HIP and EPC Regulations
On 29 March the UK's Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published over 500 pages of material relating to HIPs and Energy Performance Certificates.
RICS is analysing the contents of the documents (regulations, regulatory impact assessments and explanatory memorana) and will shortly be in a position to advise members on their contents.
In the meantime, we are continuing to seek clarification from DCLG on a wide range of issues which we believe remain unclear or unsatisfactory, with less than two months to go before HIPs are introduced.
RICS view
RICS continues to express its deep disappointment to the government at DCLG's poorly conceived implementation of HIP policy which we believe will have an adverse effect on the market, on consumers and on small businesses.
We have unequivocally supported the need for measures to tackle climate change but we do not believe that the current proposals will have the impact on carbon emissions the government is claiming.
Furthermore we are extremely concerned that there are many areas of uncertainty in the regulations as published last week and that the scheme is not ready for implementation.
The current headlong rush to 1 June with an ill-prepared scheme is unnecessary and potentially damaging.
Guidance on HIPs
RICS has prepared, with other industry bodies, a Guidance Note primarily aimed at assisting estate agents in the handling of HIPs.
This guidance incorporates the requirements set out in the Regulations published on 29 March.
It is available free of charge to members, as are all RICS Guidance Notes, at www.rics.org/guidance.
(Paper copies are chargeable from RICS Books at www.ricsbooks.com).
RICS action
Given that the government appears determined to ignore industry advice and go ahead on 1 June, RICS is working on a number of initiatives to ensure that members who wish to work on HIPs have the necessary routes to qualification, accreditation and redress required by the Housing Act:
Qualification
Members wishing to qualify as Home Inspectors or Domestic Energy Assessors can obtain the necessary assessment through Safe As... Members can download the application forms from www.rics.org/safeasenergy.
Alternatively they can contact safeasenergy@rics.org or
call RICS Contact Centre t +44 (0)870 333 1600.
Cerification and accreditation
Following qualification members can now join RICS' Certification Scheme for Home Inspectors and/or RICS Accreditation Scheme for Domestic Energy Assessors.
Both of these schemes provide the necessary IT support for lodging reports through existing market providers, Quest and Xit2.
Contact: inspector@rics.org
Redress
Estate agents providing HIP services must belong to a redress mechanism approved by the DTI. RICS is working with the department to ensure that the Surveyor Ombudsman Scheme (SOS) is approved under the Housing Act 2004 as a HIP redress scheme.
We will advise members further on this once the scheme is approved, but, in the meantime, there is no requirement for members to join the Estate Agents Ombudsman if they would prefer to wait to join an RICS-led scheme.
Contact dpilling@rics.org.
