News on the Block and Sky TV are holding six seminars over two days in London so you can choose the time and place that suits you best. Seminars are to be held at 8.30am, 12.30pm and 6pm on the following dates:

Tuesday 5th June 2007: The Hospital, 24 Endell Street, London WC2H 9HQ
Wednesday 6th June 2007: The Energy Clinic, 132 Commercial Street, E1 6NG

Book now…
To confirm your place at the seminar of your choice visit www.skyseminars.com or call 0845 072 8299. We can also transfer you to the Sky Shared Dish team if you’d like more information about Shared Dish or would like to register your block for the service.

As space is strictly limited and we expect a high demand for places, we would encourage you to respond as soon as possible indicating your preferred date and time to attend.

RICS challenges HIPs

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has issued judicial review proceedings challenging government’s handling of Home Information Packs (HIPs) under the Housing Act 2004 in England and Wales.

It followed attempts to negotiate and discuss with government officials and ministers – increasingly over recent months these attempts have been rebuffed. RICS believes that the government has failed to consult on a major policy initiative.

The resulting potential for a detrimental impact on the housing market, the public and professional firms is great.

RICS’s concerns include:

The government’s implementation of HIPs, which RICS believes has been poorly conceived and will have an adverse effect on the market, consumers and small businesses;

The determination to introduce the scheme from 1 June, despite the omission of significant and unbiased trials on the impact of HIPs;

The belief that current proposals will not have the impact on tackling climate change that the government is claiming;

The lack of qualified and accredited domestic energy assessors for the system to work effectively.

DISCLAIMER/LEGAL etc.