We can now confirm that Sellers and Estate Agents are no longer required to have or to provide copies of HIPS with effect from 21 May 2010.

HOWEVER...ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES ARE STILL REQUIRED (BUT LAST 10 YEARS)

In order to ensure that people selling their homes continue to make an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) available to prospective buyers, new regulations have been laid before Parliament which introduce a number of new requirements including:-

• a new duty on the seller to secure that an EPC has been commissioned before marketing of the property commences where no such certificate is already available
• an EPC has been commissioned when a Domestic Energy Assessor has been instructed to prepare the EPC and the EPC has either been paid for or has given a clear undertaking to pay for it
• a new duty on the person acting on behalf of the seller to be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned before commencing marketing
• a new duty on both the seller and a person acting on their behalf to make reasonable efforts to secure an EPC within 28 days
• all of the new duties carry fixed penalties where somebody fails in the duty conferred on them by the new regulations

WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ARRANGE FOR THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE TO BE PROVIDED FOR YOUR PROPERTY. The cost is approximately £60 inclusive of vat.

For further information or to make an appointment to discuss your requirements please telephone us on 01983 533938 or send an e-mail to: paul@pwsolicitor.co.uk