RICS will not withdraw judicial review

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says it will not withdraw its application for judicial review unless the government meets it obligations over Energy Performance Certificates.

Last week judge Justice Collins issued an order preventing EPCs to be included in the Home Information Packs until a court had fully considered the RICS application.

In response, the government has postponed HIPs until August 1 and will then phase them in.
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly told ministers that RICS was committed to the swift and smooth introduction of both HIPs and EPC.

Jeremy Leaf, the housing spokesman for RICs, says: "RICS has not withdrawn the judicial review – it has been ‘stayed’ and can be reactivated if the government fails to deliver on its obligations.
"RICS has not agreed to what the Minister outlined in Parliament.

"RICS has only agreed to the stay of the judicial review on the condition that the government provide a 12 week consultation period on EPCs, that it publish a Regulatory Impact Assessment including a full cost-benefit analysis
and that the government pay RICS' legal costs.

"We will be examining the new proposals in detail, and will continue to work in the public interest on home buying reform and climate change.”

RICS supports the government's decision to postpone HIPs.

Leaf adds: "This decision shows our fears and concerns were justified. We support the introduction of EPCs – we always have.

"The additional time should be used constructively to iron-out the problems.
"The practical implementation of HIPs must serve the best interests of the consumer."

Source Rebecca Atkinson - 23-May-2007