Hip providers consider legal action after delay
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The Association of Home Information Pack Providers is considering taking legal action against the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors over its part in the home information packs debacle.
Ahipp deputy director general Paul Broadhead says if it pursues legal action over the Government's delaying of Hips, it would be against RICS rather than the Government. He says the launch of judicial review proceedings by RICS did not follow the proper procedures.
Broadhead says: "RICS should have consulted with all the stakeholders involved in Hips and it clearly did not do that."
On Tuesday, Ahipp brought forward its monthly member meetings to discuss the Government's recent announcement that Hips will be delayed until August 1.
Broadhead says it will discuss with members how it should react and whether to pursue legal action. He adds that final decisions will be made shortly.
The Government could face a wave of compensation claims from individuals who had trained to become home inspectors for the launch of Hips, due on June 1.
Energyassessors.com has announced that it is cancelling the training contracts of 100 assessors. In addition, 37 Spicerhaart employees have been made redundant.
Speculation is also mounting that the Government will scrap Hips completely and only introduce energy performance certificates, which are set to become mandatory under European law by January 1, 2009.
Broadhead says he does not believe this will happen, stating that to make further changes after last week's announcement would be farcical.
