The government has been criticised for causing delays in introducing HIPs…

A committee of MPs said "poor preparation" meant the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) lost its nerve and failed to deliver.  Hips were supposed to be introduced in full from 1 June, but were implemented in stages for various sized properties.

The government said it deliberately phased the roll-out of Hips "to ensure smooth implementation". Hips, now compulsory for all homes being sold in England and Wales, are intended to speed and improve the sale of homes and give buyers an energy rating for the property.

Chaos and confusion

They were initially meant to include a report on the condition of the property - but the government decided to make that element voluntary. The slimmed down packs, containing title deeds, local searches and an energy performance certificate, were then meant to be introduced from 1 June - but the week before, that was delayed until August - and then only for properties with at least four bedrooms.

In September they became compulsory for properties with three bedrooms, and in December for those with one or two bedrooms. MPs on the Communities and Local Government select committee were not convinced by the reasons given for the problems in introducing Hips. They said both ministers and officials were not "forthcoming in oral evidence".

Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps criticised the "shambolic and secretive way" in which Hips were introduced saying: "At a time when the housing market needs certainty and stability, Labour provided chaos and confusion."

Smooth implementation

But housing minister Iain Wright said: "It was not possible to introduce Hips in June because of the RICS legal action against the energy performance certificate and, due to the resulting uncertainty, the number of assessors available.

"And we made a deliberate decision to phase the roll-out in order to ensure smooth implementation."

He said they had wanted to get an independent assessment of the impact of the first phase of Hips before continuing, giving "changes taking place in the housing market over the autumn".