IT HAS been a confusing time for estate agents and home movers with amendments to the introduction of the new Home Information Packs (or HIPs).

The change of heart by the Government has resulted in a phasing-in approach to HIPs, starting with four-bedroom or larger properties on August 1. At present no details of the timing for the introduction for HIPs for smaller properties has been confirmed.

If you are planning to move this year, there is still a chance to avoid the cost and hassle of a HIP but sellers need to act quickly and get their properties on to the market by the end of July.

They will then have until the end of the year to sell their properties. If, after this time, the property is still unsold, a HIP will be required.

"This is the most significant change to home moving for many years and requires the seller to provide the buyer with information about their home," said David Lench, managing director of Ward & Partners.

"There has been much criticism of this new legislation, which has been introduced to streamline the moving process. However, a benefit of the introduction of HIPs is that it should make buying a property more transparent with more information being supplied by the seller."

A key element of the HIP is the Energy Performance Certificate which assesses a property based on its performance in terms of energy used per square metre of floor area, energy efficiency based on fuel costs and the environmental impact based on carbon dioxide emissions.

Properties are assessed and then rated according to the performance results.

Mr Lench is confident that his team is ready for August 1, having already been geared up for the earlier introduction date of June 1.

"From day one we have developed systems and procedures to cope with this new legislation, trained our staff and added all the relevant information to our website to help demystify this new legislation.

"We are also one of the few estate agents that have trained their own Domestic Energy Assessors so not only can we market a property but we can also send in our own qualified and accredited energy inspectors to carry out this assessment.

"This means that we can put together all elements of our HIPs together thereby removing any hassle for our customers – after all, moving house is stressful enough so we’re on hand to help in every way we can."