HIPs are here: how will your home shape up?

With the potential savings that using less energy can make, it's not surprising that energy efficiency is in demand from home buyers. And, from 14th December 2007, the introductory date for Home Information Packs (HIPs) in England and Wales, energy performance will have a real influence on the price you get for your home if you decide to sell.

Energy wasted by poor insulation, inefficient boilers and lack of double glazing already costs home owners dear in terms of fuel bills. It's bad news for the environment, too, with almost half of the UK's carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) emissions that cause climate change coming from the energy we use at home and when we travel.

Research already shows that 45 per cent of people are willing to pay more for a home that's environmentally friendly. And 64 per cent of people say they would steer clear of buying a poorly insulated, poorly glazed home ¹ . Now, thanks to HIPs, potential buyers will be able to see exactly how well your home is performing.

What's in a HIP?

Properties marketed for sale from 14 December 2007 in England and Wales will need a Home Information Pack (HIP), which gives potential buyers a wide range of information about their home. This includes searches and information on the ownership of the property. To compile a HIP, you can hire estate agents, solicitors, separate pack providers, or prepare one yourself. At first, HIPs will only be used for places with four or more bedrooms, but they will be phased in to cover smaller homes too.

A vital element of the packs is an Energy Performance Certificate, which will give homes a rating from A (for the best performers) to G - a little like EU energy ratings for appliances. Specially trained assessors will rate each home for:

• energy efficiency: the higher the rating, the more energy efficient it is.
• environmental impact: this shows your home's impact on the environment in terms of CO ₂ emissions.

How we can help you improve your rating

The upshot is that it makes sense to get your home performing as well as possible before you put it on the market - and that's where we can help you:

• Find out where you stand in the energy performance stakes by doing a free Home Energy Check. In just a few minutes you'll get an idea of what you need to do to improve your home's performance. Do a Home Energy Check now.
• Call us on 0800 512 012. We'll give you free energy advice and tell you about the grants and offers available to help you improve your home.

Stay put and cut costs

Making your home more energy efficient doesn't just increase its value when you sell, of course. A few simple steps could save you up to £270 a year in fuel bills, as well as helping to reduce your impact on the environment. Find out more about:

• cavity wall insulation
• loft insulation
• condensing boilers

Next steps

Find out more about HIPs

Find out more about improving your home's energy performance

1. Statistics sourced from consumer research commissioned by the Energy Saving Trust and carried out by IPSOS Mori and ICM in January and February 2006.

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