The new government Home Improvement Packs are to come in from August 1, for houses with 4 or more bedrooms. Homes up for sale by the elderly have crashed to less than 12% of 2001 levels because of the government message: you can't sell your home without a new HIP.
Jan Zimmer, 68, explains, "Well I was looking in the paper and it said that everyone who wants to sell their house has to have a new hip. well, I've been on the waiting list for years, and I can't get one."
Oscar Frail, 72, said, "It's a good thing, this. I'm glad that the government is finally moving things along, and people can get a new hip before selling their house. I think it's a good idea."
Sir Init Forthemoney was at a Domestic Energy Assessors seminar and commented on the introduction. "I think it's a really good idea, and will result in lots of employment for people to assess peoples homes in terms of carbon dating. It will probably save hundreds of lives, in the end."
Surgeons at the local hospital were not so sure. "I can't understand what having a new hip has got to do with selling your house. My listings have gone through the roof. Thankfully, most are private now, as the NHS can't afford me any more, but that's not the point. There's only 6 hours in the day before the light fades on the golf course."
