Hip view (Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates EPC

Councils may soon have greater freedom to build more homes under plans going out to consultation today.

Under the proposals announced by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett, councils would be able to keep all the rental income from any homes they build, as well as keep the receipts from any of those homes which are later sold through Right to Buy.

The extra money could free councils to invest in the building of more council houses, helping to deliver more homes for families in need.

Councils currently only build a few hundred council homes a year, with the majority of new social homes being built by registered social landlords. The consultation proposals would seek to boost this build rate by removing some of the financial barriers stopping councils from building new properties and increasing their housing stock.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said she wanted local authorities to play a bigger role in the delivery of council housing and invited councils interested in building more homes to discuss their ideas with the Homes and Communities Agency.

Margaret Beckett said:

“We are determined to help keep house building going in the current climate, as the long term need for more homes is not going to disappear. These new freedoms will encourage councils to play a bigger role in driving forward the delivery of new affordable homes for families in housing need.”

The Government recently announced it would invite councils to bid for a share of the capital grant given to social landlords to subsidise the cost of new housing. The new financial rules will make it possible for councils to compete for this funding alongside other providers of social housing such as registered social landlords.

It has been reported to Pali ltd that some local authority building control departments are receiving standard domestic EPC’s (RdSAP) for newly constructed dwellings.

Since 6th April 2008  when a new building or a conversion from a non-dwelling to a dwelling is due to be signed off by building control it must have an On Construction SAP Calculation and an On Construction EPC. Not an RdSAP. This can be established on page two under “About this document”.

If the dwelling was completed  before 6^th April 2008 it will still have to have the full EPC produced by an On Construction Energy Assessor.

Any dwelling that has not yet been signed off by building control must have a Predictive Energy Assessment (PEA) before it can be marketed for sale or let.

Pali can assist in the production of all the different types of EPC required for developments or HIP’s. If you have any queries please contact Steve or Phil on 0151 691 1170. or phil@paliltd.com

Hi this is the HipView blog which we will be using to post interesting and maybe not so interesting snippets.

We are currently experiencing a high demand for NDEPC and are looking for level 3 and 4 assessors strategically placed around the country to pass work to.

If you would like to be added to our list please go to www.locateassessor.co.uk and post your details. This is an internal site and your details will not be passed on.

Nick,snr