HIPs and Heath Ledger

Home Information Packs? What are they then...? Nobody seems quite up to speed, especially not the the powers that be who are currently back-tracking for all they're worth...

Well, don't look at me, I've got no idea. To make make house buying easier everyone who puts their property on the market needs an HIP, costing anything from £600+. They were mandatory as of next week. Now you don't need one for a couple more months. And only if you own a house with four rooms or more (and your estate agent isn't didling the spec), however there aren't enough people to carry out the required surveys and the scheme with come into force for all homes but nobody knows when...

Confused? Run for Parliment, why not?

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly yesterday announced a delay to the rollout and admitted that the necesaary Energy Performance Certificates do not have enough people to issue them. The government is going to great pains to stress the importance of these carbon quotas as a way of combating climate change, however who's going to read them (and really make the changes)? Our approach to recycling and emmissions management needs a serious kick up the arse but are HIPs going to prompt action on the domestic front? I doubt it....David Cameron's windmills were easier to get to grips with...

The packs are a good idea but like so many government schemes, they have been overseen by some Whitehall numpty with blinkers on - frustrating the professionals (who are currently arguing their case against HIPs in court) and disengaging the customer (sorry, public) with climb-downs, confusing press releases and the absence of any useful information.

Lighter note; I am seriously excited (only one year to go...heh) about the journo flick How To Lose Friends and Alienate People, about NY hack Sidney Young - starring Simon Pegg (~drools~), Kirsten Dunst, Gillian Anderson and Jeff Bridges. Something to look forward to - along with The Dark Knight, check out the chilling pics of Heath Ledger's Joker online. eep.