those crappy home information packs are not going to be introduced in 10 days

[zippitippi]

...good, lets hope the delay is permanent

well it's a feeble hope

what a halfbaked idea it all is.

yep and who is going to think oh whoopy pvc sappy excellent wondows

or nice renovated sashes

blahdyblah

and all these so called inspectors will be rubbish charlatans

doesn't say why..obviously just because they are crap

ah the sill kelly mare has made a speech on the subject..there aren't enough people to do it

but sadly she promises there will be later

Glad this nonsensical piece of crap is being shelved for a bit - hope its forever. The energy efficiency thing was a pile of steaming shit, wasnt it? It would have meant I would have to pay through the nose to inform my future buyer that my Victorian house with period features is a bit draftier than a double glazed Barratts monstrosity would be. No, surely not? Grrr.

Did you see the fine for not having one was £200 and the cost of getting one was £600?

I think Yogi Bear thought that one up.

I am one of the few trained Domestic Energy Assessors we are not rubbish charlatans - what makes you think we are?

Homes account for 27% of carbon emissions, if you follow the advice on your energy performance certificate the average homeowner will save £300 per year. I am not talking about large investments, but inexpensive ones. The idea is that when you buy a new home you are more likely to make changes to it shortly after you move in. So if you are given advice on how to reduce your energy at that point you are more likely to implement changes.

If you live in a conservation area/listed building etc we do not put down doubled glazed windows as a recommendation. Obviously a Victorian property is not going to be an energy efficient as a modern one - but the report gives you two scores. One is for your energy rating now and the other is your potential if you implement the recommendations. We should all aim to match the potential one.

If you don't understand it, ask don't just judge from what your've read in the press.

bump

i'm quite bummed, i thought somepeople would be selling fater than they were going to becuase they didn't want to foot the cost. bummer bummer bummer.

does that mean i still have to pay for a survey?

i think its a load of shit anyway.

ok - i don't see how a fancy energy efficiency score will help houses sell or stop gazumping and the HIP packs were meant to do this ...

I did wonder how you go about doing the training. I fancy a change of career

Yes, but I think you can definitely criticise the govt for all the indecision that has surrounded the introduction of HIPs. First it was last year, then this year, now in August (I think). The Kelly woman said it was because consumers needed more clarity!!!! What is clear about all this indecision?

I should think if you are an inspector you are pretty peed off about the whole thing. They start training people on the basis of this HIP thing and then mess every one around. It is ridiculous. Either they go for it, or they don't.

Quite frankly I think they are worried about the housing market. After all it has propped up G Brown's so called miracle economy for the past 8 years or so and they are fearful that HIPs could provide a trigger for a fall. The previous governor of the BoE has even stated that is was all preplanned to avert a recession and make the govt look good.

Energy Advisor, I think you should be really angry with the govt.

I still think it is a poorly thought out idea with poorly thought out implementaytion and never think training people in something like this is as effective as people having more significant qualifications

it is too superficial

I definitely blame the government

It is being introduced 1 august now.

You have to train for any qualification and in case you've been reading the lies in the press we are all CRB checked (unlike Estate Agents, builders etc who come into your home)

Yes, figroll I am very angry with the Government I've invested a lot of money in training fees to find that at the eleventh hour they've moved the goalposts.

I agree that the EPC has nothing to do with speeding up the house selling process, but it is an EU directive that must be implemented by Jan 09 so it will come in eventually. I guess the Govt thought making it a part of HIPs would be a good as I said earlier you are more likely to make changes when you move in.

There has been a lot of bad publicity, but be clear the only extra thing cost wise is the energy performance certificate. The rest of the HIP is documentation you have to have anyway ie. searches. As most sellers and buyers it makes no odds and is better for first time buyers. It will speed up the process, I've moved house a few times and you are forever chasing solicitors to exchange. The answer is always 'we are waiting for the searches' with HIPs you'd have them already.

ok wouldn't it have been just as simple to have a website where you input ypour info and get an energy assessment online

s would i still have to pay for a survey?

a survey is completely separate, they have dropped those

i'm not clear - a bit thick am i

having never done this before. at the mo - if i bought a house tomoz, they would sdsay " oi custy giz £500 for a survey"

but after the hips are introduced will they be asking me for this money>?

sorry Custardo, yes you probably will still need a survey. Originally HIPs were going to include a home condition report, but the Govt scrapped it a year ago. It's now voluntary and we just don't know if people are going to choose to have one.

There is something like that now on the Energy Saving Trust website. The problem is there is no way to check that what people put in is correct. We are all trained in construction and building regulations so can identify if you have solid/cavity walls etc. This was there will be accuracy and you will be able to compare like with like.

Sorry, the Energy Saving Trust thing was in response to Zippi

I still resent paying for something which I think you can see for your self, but I suppose I am just more knowledgeable about buildings than other people

Thats the problem, not everyone is and a lot of people don't give a stuff about the environment, but if they see their heating bills reduced then they'll do something about it.