The RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) is taking action against the Government's much publicised Home Information Packs - and only two weeks before they are due to launch.

Judicial Review proceedings have been commenced by the RICS against the DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) due to its failure to carry out proper consultation before implementing the news legislation to bring in HIPs on June 1st this year.

In a statement from RICS, chair of their regulatory board Teresa Graham said:

“The RICS has not made the decision to commence Judicial Review proceedings lightly. We have exhausted all the alternatives and greatly regret that we were left with no other option if we are to protect the public's property interests."

This action occurred only 24 hourse before the HIPs were scheduled to be debated in the House of Commons after the criticism by the House of Lords committee and opposition from several sections of the housing industry.

However, energy-assessors.com - a venture set up to provide the workforce of Domestic Energy Assessors who will prove Energy Performance Certificates under the new scheme say that the court proceedings are simply a 'knee-jerk reaction' on the part of the RICS, saying:

"RICS' announcement today that it is initiating legal proceedings against the Government over HIPs, is nothing more than the latest knee-jerk reaction from the politically-motivated anti-HIPs brigade.

“Furthermore, it is a strange call from an organisation that has been given status as one of five accreditation bodies for the training of Domestic Energy Assessors.

"To take this step at the 11th hour is not going to benefit the energy efficiency of the UK's housing stock, which is in a sad state of inefficiency, but is instead just another move in a game of political point-scoring and an attempt to cover over the fact that RICS has done very little to prepare for the arrival of HIPs, in spite of Government legislation.

"With just 11 working days remaining until the introduction of HIPs, the industry should be focusing its efforts on ensuring that consumers will receive a seamless service come June 1."

The debate over HIPs looks sto continue - and it is not clear at this time what will happen on the 1st June. Many have predicted a rush in people selling up to avoid having to get a HIP but this has not happened of yet.