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Could it really be true? Well according to Harry Wallop of the Telegraph and Grant Shapps, the Conservative housing spokesman- yes it is! They both expect a delay until the end of the year, their prediction coming just 24 hours after I entered my prediction of 15 Dec 08 in the online sweepstake being held on the Home Inspectors Forum.

All of this of course relates to the difference between the status quo which is simply ordering the pack, and the planned next step which is to make sure many of the HIP documents are actually completed before marketing can commence. Shockingly every delay that CLG announce simply hands the advantage to the slower, inefficient HIP provider and certainly those that who invested in high-tech integrated solutions have found their advantage frittered away since the start of HIPs in Sept 07.

Landlords to take advantage of grants for energy efficiency measures?
The Landlords Energy Saving Allowance scheme (LESA) allows landlords to claim the cost of buying and installing the following items:
- draught proofing
- loft insulation
- floor insulation
- cavity wall insulation
- solid wall insulation
- insulation for hot water systems

If you are a residential landlord and have insulated your rental properties, you can reduce your income tax bill by claiming a deduction against your profits of up to 1,500 per property. Further details can be found in the HMRC guidance notes

So will landlords get involved in this? Yes I think the professional landlords will, they are looking to minimise the tax paid, and certainly with the economy struggling, maximising the ability to take profits/dividends is always a sensible approach.

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