Ahipp attacks Conservatives over Hips

Posted: 27 Apr 2007 11:47:12 GMT

The Conservative Party has been attacked by director general for the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (Ahipp) for its attempts to delay the introduction of Home improvement packs (Hips) on June 1st.

The Conservative Party has been attacked by director general for the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (Ahipp) for its attempts to delay the introduction of Home improvement packs (Hips) on June 1st.

Ahipp head Mike Ockenden insisted that, contrary to the arguments of the Tories and housing industry bodies opposed to the scheme, "there will be enough qualified energy assessors" to manage it and property sellers would enjoy a "smoother, more efficient, more informative and less stressful process" when putting their homes on the market.

He argued that the party had "jumped on the coat-tails" of the opponents of Hips and were involved in "opposition for opposition's sake".

The Law Society has joined those calling for a delay to the introduction of the scheme, arguing that £250 million will be wasted on packs for homeowners who will never sell their property.

Law Society vice president Paul Marsh told the Daily Telegraph that as well as the cost issue there was also that of "inspectors getting in their four by fours driving around and producing all the sheets of paper", which he suggested undermined the eco-friendly aim of the plan.


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