Full market rollout of HIPs will not hurt first-time buyers or cause a market slowdown, according to surveyors and energy assessment experts Christopher Rodgers.

Yesterday, housing minister Yvette Cooper confirmed that one and two bedroom properties will require a HIP from 14th December 2007 before they can be sold. From 1st June 2008, all properties will require a HIP before they can be marketed. The announcement follows the staggered implementation of HIPs over the last four months and has sparked concerns that property sales will slump as demand for HIPs increases.

Christopher Rodgers Home & Energy specialises in completing property energy assessments and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) – a key part of the HIPs. The company’s head of operations Alex Rodgers comments: “There is speculation that a shortage of Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) will lead to slower EPC completion timescales and that demand from the property market will outstrip assessor numbers and availability. In turn, this is prompting fears of a shortage of properties coming on to the market and rising house prices, which will hit first-time buyers the hardest.

“These fears are unfounded and disregard the staged implementation of HIPs. Currently, there are enough DEAs available to cope with the expected rise in demand that will follow full market rollout. This is why the government has decided now is the right time to extend HIPs from three and four bedroom properties to the rest of the market.”

During the last 18 months, Christopher Rodgers Home & Energy has invested in establishing the UK’s largest team of DEAs and is looking to grow its team from 100 to 400 assessors over the next two months, as the property market traditionally picks-up in the Spring. In addition, it has developed software and IT systems that enable it to complete the vast majority of its EPCs within three to five days.

Rodgers continues: “EPCs and HIPs are designed to make the house buying and selling process less onerous and risky, while helping to improve energy efficiency. The domestic property market including buyers, sellers, estate agents and lawyers need to embrace the new legislation and schedule home inspections and energy assessments early. This will help property owners access grants to improve their home’s energy performance, reduce the potential for property sale delays and property shortages, and assist the smooth implementation of HIPs to the benefit of the whole market.”

Email: poole@paversmith.co.uk

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