Released on = May 17, 2007, 3:55 am

Press Release Author = Charlotte Burrows

Industry = Real Estate

Press Release Summary = The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP)
has suggested that improvements to the energy efficiency of British homes could be
delayed should a vote in the House of Commons be carried.


Press Release Body = A debate in the House on home information packs (Hips) will
take place this Wednesday, and a vote against the new regulations will be taken.

Should MPs choose to vote against Hips, their entire future will be called into
question - as will that of the energy performance certificate (EPC), which will form
part of the Pack if introduced on June 1st.

AHIPP has claimed that the derailing of the Hip roll-out will \"seriously impact the
UK\'s climate change over the next few years\".

\"The only way to ensure that the EPC will be implemented and will significantly
reduce the carbon emission from homes over the next year is through home information
packs,\" commented Paul Broadhead, deputy director general of the AHIPP.

\"If the vote in the Commons this week goes against the new Hip regulations it is
essentially back to the drawing board for the EPC, with no other, existing
regulations currently in place to ensure the imminent implementation of this vital
reform.\"

Opponents of Hips say the legislation will lead to unnecessary delays for homeowners
wishing to sell their properties, while they have also been critical of the rather
extortionate cost, which is estimated to be in the region of £300-£500.

Another critic, fast property sale leaders National Homebuyers, says although their
business will clearly benefit from the introduction of Hips, they have the
consumer\'s interests in mind. Director Julian King says: \"The UK property selling
process is painful. It is slow, fraught with delays and now it is increasingly
expensive. Homesellers are being exposed to serious problems because of the probable
introduction of Hips.

\"As fast sale experts, National Homebuyers do not require the vendor to provide a
home information pack to sell their home to us. We simply make a cash offer and
complete at a time to suit the seller. Homeowners must understand that the
traditional draconian way of selling homes through high street estate agents is not
the only way to sell your property and - unlike selling to us - even that method
does not guarantee a sale.\"

National Homebuyers can be contacted on 0870 979 8118 and more information can be
found at www.nationalhomebuyers.co.uk/nohips.html.


Web Site = http://www.nationalhomebuyers.co.uk

Contact Details = Sterling House
20 Victoria Way
Burgess Hill
West Sussex
RH15 9NF
08709798118
Fax: 01444 257333
info@nationalhomebuyers.co.uk