The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced that people in six areas who choose to do so will get an early chance to trial the new Energy Performance Certificates - similar to consumer-friendly fridge ratings - and Home Information Packs (HIPs), which will be launched next year.
Local estate agents will meet representatives from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) in Bath, Cambridge, Southampton, Huddersfield, Northampton and Newcastle upon Tyne over the next few weeks to find out more about the trials and get the chance to sign up to take part.
The trials, which will begin on 6 November, aim to:
* Understand the impact of HIPS (with and without Home Condition Reports, which will be voluntary elements of the Pack) on the home-buying and selling process;
* Identify how we can maximise the take-up of Home Condition Reports to accelerate these benefits;
* Determine how to maximise the impact of Energy Performance Certificates on the public's awareness of energy efficiency matters.
The trials will enable the reaction of both buyers and sellers to the packs to be tested on the ground in the run up to mandatory Energy Performance Certificates and Home Information Packs being introduced for all residential sales on 1 June 2007. As part of the trials there will also be a range of incentives including a limited number of free packs; and packs available at a reduced cost for homeowners who want to try them out.
Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said: "We need to work together to tackle climate change. Twenty-seven per cent of carbon emissions come from our homes and it's only right homeowners should have information on the energy efficiency of their houses. Residents who want to take part in the trials will be amongst the first to have these facts at their fingertips. Home Information Packs have the potential to speed up the home-buying and selling process by providing up-front information to potential buyers. It's vital that we test them properly 'on the ground' so consumers get the best product possible."
