Diploma in Home Inspection
BRE professional training and accreditation
At last Home Information Packs are now a requirement for homes being placed on the market for sale. Home Information Packs have been extended to include houses of three bedrooms and more from 10th September 2007. There are now 4,000 accredited energy assessors and therefore we expect HIPs to extend to the full market soon. What is BRE's part in this?
BRE is continuing to train Home Inspectors and Domestic Energy Assessors and is one of the leading training providers. In addition, through BRE Global, we are providing the Home Inspector certification and DEA accreditation schemes that are required to regulate the assessors and quality assure their work.
What is in a Home Information Pack?
A Home Information Pack (HIP) includes an Index, Energy Performance Certificate, Sale Statement, Standard Searches, Evidence of Title and other information for leasehold and commonhold sales. It may also include the Home Condition Report, Legal Summary, Home use/ contents forms and other documents as optional additions.
Why are Energy Performance Certificates important?
Nearly 40 per cent of the UK's energy consumption arises from the way in which our 25 million buildings are lit, heated and used. Even comparatively minor changes in energy performance and the way we use each building will have a significant effect in reducing energy consumption - and therefore carbon emissions.
The Energy Performance Certificate is part of these new measures to improve property efficiency. It presents the actual and potential energy consumption and environmental impact of the home expressing these on an A to G scale. It will include suggestions to enable homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of the building. This can mean lower energy bills for the occupiers, and could make homes more attractive to potential purchasers.
The certificate will also provide contact details for the Energy Savings Trust, who can help you find out whether you could be eligible for grants or discounts to help carry out these improvements to your home. It will also list simple ways that changes in behaviour can save you energy and money - without the need for any works.
How long does a Pack remain valid?
Until 31 December a property can be marketed provided the HIP has been commissioned but the EPC must be provided before exchange. From 1 January 2008 onwards, a HIP including the EPC should be available from the time it is first placed on the market.
The HIP can be up to 12 months old when the home is placed on the market. While the property is on the market the Pack remains valid and there is no need to update it (ultimately, the market decides whether the documents remain acceptable and up to date).
If the sale of the property stops and then starts again, it would normally be required to assemble a new Pack and to update those documents which are now out of date according to the requirements of the Home Information Pack Regulations. However, the seller can carry on using the same Pack without the need to update any of the documents in the following circumstances:
- Where marketing stopped because the seller accepted an offer and wants to restart marketing because the sale has fallen through, provided that remarketing starts within one year of the date when marketing first began or, if later, within 28 days of the sale falling through.
- Where marketing has stopped for any other reason, the seller may remarket the property with the same Pack provided that remarketing starts within one year of the date when marketing first began.
Further information:
CLG Home Information Packs website at www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk
BRE Training at www.bre.co.uk/training
BREG Home Inspectors Certification Scheme at www.breinspector.co.uk
BREG Accreditation Scheme for Energy Assessors at www.breassessor.co.uk
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