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EPCs for Holiday Homes

By 30^th June 2011 holiday homes will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) If they are let out for a combined period of 4 months in a year.

Mobile homes, caravans and chalets that have not been subject to building regulations are exempt. from the new Legislation.

If the property is self contained with no shared facilities it will require a residential EPC. An EPC for this type of property will be valid for ten years.

Energy Performnace certificates in RICS Red Book

An innovation in the RICS Red Book guides Surveyors to consider the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) result when valuing a property.

Further direction expected this month is likely to suggest that property values could be increased by 2 – 3% in relation to the green credentials of a property.

Hips scrapping welcomed

Property industry professionals including Dragons Den Star, James Caan is Celebrating the scrapping of the controversial Home Information Packs (HIPS).

Property experts welcomed the announcement by housing minister Grant Shapps MP saying: "This is good news for people desperate to move up the property ladder. The HIPS Scheme was a major barrier to fluidity in the housing market."

It will be greeted enthusiastically by both the housing market and house buyers, few of whom have paid much attention to these pointless packs. it is also good news for sellers. They no longer need to shell out hundreds of pounds for a peice of pointless regulation that benefits no one.

A surge in Property sales instruction after HIPS

A surge in sales instruction is predicted, Khan Sahib Managing Director of Khan insurance & Mortgage Services (Rochdale) commented: "We expect the suspention of HIPs to result in a 13 per cent Surge in the number of speculative vendors returning to the market, encouraged by the fact that there are no longer any upfront costs associated with testing the water."

RICS announces rise in buyers

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors reported rises in the number of monthly surveys being carried out by their members, even as government figures show that overall prices are continuing to fall. First-time buyers are still hardest hit.