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Home information packs (HIPs) could be rolled out across the whole of the housing market by October, it was claimed today.

Government figures showed that the number of accredited energy assessors has jumped by more than a quarter in the space of just two weeks, to 1,340.

And with a further 1,200 inspectors expected to be in place by the end of July, supporters of sellers' packs said there was no reason why all homes could not be covered by the new regime by the end of the summer.

HIPs - which are being introduced in a bid to slash the number of collapsed housing transactions and help cut carbon emissions - are due to see a staggered launch from August 1.

From that date, sellers of four-bedroom and larger homes will be required to provide upfront information about the property and an energy performance certificate.

The regime will then be rolled out to the rest of the market as and when enough inspectors become available.

Packs have been opposed by a large section of the housing industry, with critics claiming that they will increase the cost of selling a home and distort the market with little benefit to the homebuyer.

An original deadline for implementation of June 1 was put back after ministers admitted that there were insufficient numbers of accredited energy assessors to enable the regime to be rolled out.

A total of 3,000 assessors are needed before HIPs become mandatory for all houses on the market.

The Government today confirmed that since June 11, the number of accredited energy inspectors and assessors has risen by 28%.

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "We have made clear we will provide routine updates on numbers of energy assessors and home inspectors as part of our plans to bring forward HIPs and EPCs."

"We can confirm today that there are now more than 1,340 accredited energy assessors and home inspectors."

"This is up by nearly 300 from 11 June when we last provided an update."

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) said a further 1,200 were fully trained and would be accredited by the end of July.

Paul Broadhead, deputy director general of AHIPP, said: "The Government will easily meet the 2,000 target that it suggests is needed to provide HIPs for homes with three bedrooms or more."

"As a result, I see no reason why, in line with its implementation plan, Government could not introduce mandatory HIPs for three bedroom properties from September 1, with the rest of the housing stock soon to follow, perhaps as soon as October."

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government
said: "As we set out to Parliament on May 22, we will roll out to other sized properties when sufficient energy inspectors are in place nationally and regionally to meet market demand, taking into account lessons learnt from the operation of the scheme."

Conservative housing spokesman Michael Gove said: "The Government's credibility on HIPs has been undermined throughout by their bungling at every stage.

"The idea of rolling out HIPs for four-bedroom houses on August 1 is confusing, complex and will be hugely difficult to enforce.

"The Government's incompetence has already led to companies laying off home inspectors, depriving individuals of a livelihood, and held back progress on energy efficiency."

Copyright Press Association 2007

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