Hips starting for three-bed homes

People selling three-bedroom homes in England and Wales must now use Home Information Packs (Hips).

The controversial measure was first introduced for four-bedroom homes at the beginning of August.

The packs, which include energy performance certificates (EPCs) for the homes, are designed to speed up the house buying process.

Hips have been opposed by estate agents and surveyors and do not contain a home condition report, as first suggested.

The purpose of the energy certificates is to grade houses and flats, rather in the fashion of fridges, to show how much energy they use and how much money might be saved with better insulation and different fittings such as more efficient boilers.