It's all go for 1st June!

Despite the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' (RICS) attempt to delay or prevent introduction of HIP's, the Commons passed the vote on the 2007 Regulations on Wednesday 16th May leading to the formal introduction of Home Information Packs on the 1st June. The RICS say they have not had enough consultation! Well nobody at the RICS has ever consulted Dataval who have produced almost 200 HCR's as part of the Newcastle dry run and have excellent feedback from consumers about the benefits of HCR's and EPC's. The RICS is keen to protect its own members (I am one of those with 30-years subscriptions), yet my experience is that only a few RICS members have so far appreciated the opportunity and the benefit to consumers of the HIP.

Let's be realistic.....the HIP is in it's early stages. But the process of up-front consumer-lead information on home sales is the only way forward in this digital age. It's a huge improvement on the current analogue system and provides a real base for improvement in domestic energy efficiency levels and local search/property title details for every home. The Home Condition Report (HCR) is also an optional tool that many smart vendors and estate agents see as a marketing advantage. It gives credibility (whether good or bad) to the condition of homes and can prevent last minute problems where,under the current system, some building defects only appear at the 11th hour.

The whole process can now move forward.........it's not yet perfect and there will be problems from June related to speed and accuracy. But we have to start somewhere and it will work. There are enough dedicated people already in place in most relevant parts of the UK to provide the required service. Within a few more weeks there could even be a surplus of Domestic Energy Assessors. That could drive EPC fees down.

Dataval provide both EPC's and HCR's. We are ready to serve Pack Providers with this service now.