MPs' anger over Hip delays

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A select committee of MPs said the decision to delay the introduction of Hips was due to a failure of nerve following pressure from the media.

Hips were intended to make the process of buying a house quicker and easier and help ensure that less sales broke down.

As well as an energy performance certificate, Hips must contain information on whether the property is freehold or leasehold, standard searches and evidence of title and information on the lease if it is a leasehold property

All properties marked for sale since December 14 last year in England and Wales will now require a HIP before a sale can take place.

But critics have claimed that they will distort the housing market, lead to a fall in the number of starter homes put up for sale and make it harder for people to get on to the property ladder.

In a Communities and Local Government (CLG) Departmental Annual Report, MPs on the CLG Select Committee said the decision to delay the introduction of Hips was one of the areas "where the department failed to deliver".

Hips were due to be rolled out in June 2007 but were introduced two months later in August and then only for homes with four or more bedrooms.

Three bedroom houses were added last September, with Hips for all homes becoming mandatory only last month.

But the Committee did praise DCLG for its work in other areas describing the department's Decent Homes programme as an "outstanding example of local government delivery".