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jdubya, you appear to be reading this wrong. I have no major problems with the EPC. Quite frankly, these could quite easily be part of the current system, like a Local Land Charges Search etc.
The problem I have is with the whole set up of Hips. Please believe me when I say that having this information (most of which will be ignored) prior to the property being marketed will not speed up the current system in any way and it will reduce the number of properties being sold. Some people may argue that is a good thing, but I am afraid that this Country relies a little too much on the Housing and Financial markets to help stabilise the fragile economy we have.
Believe me, as a proposed Inspector, you are likely to get more business if the EPCs are incorporated into the current system. As it stands, if the HIPs are introduced in their proposed state, there will not be much of a housing industry for you or I to work in. That is the sad truth of this farcical legislation.

Phew quite some strong views on this it seems but then we should expect that since house buying is about as stressful as things can get.

I've been in this building/legal industry for 30 years and have ranted about this subject for most of them.

HIP's or something similar are required because both the conveyancing professin and building industry have failed to treat the customer/house buyer/seller with much if any consideration. Large developers know that in reality if you're after a new house there is actaully very little choice. How many housing estates are going up near you where the house types and standards are comparable? Usually one will build posh jobs and another 'affordable stuff. So they can and have done what they want for years. Standards of quality are the worst in housing than the rest of the industry by miles. Thermal effciency etc (yes, i know there is more to it than just that) could have been vastly improved in construction years ago.

Legal profession know that most will have to use there services so none of them offer any real customer focussed service. Sorry guys just my 30 years experience as a property purchaser/seller and career - obviously this is a generalisation.

What should really have happened is that house builders should produce a manual/specification/service book just like a vehicle has. It has been talked about for as long as I can remember. Converyancing profession could and should have taken the initiative to ensure information about the property is sorted, eg. any buildings done etc - at the start and not leave it to chance too far down the line, in many cases 2/3 days before or even day of completion.

Having said all that the current HIPs is riddled with problems. Unfortunately it is very much geared towards energy efficiency which in reality for current stock will be of little use and it stops the important information such as 'is the bldg fit for purpose' being identified. This isn't checked at all currently.

The sad thing is that the surevys may take a little while to do measuring up and looking at specifications etc but its not rocket science and the ratings are very easy to produce using the, now, working software calculators.

In summary everyone hear is right and wrong, just standing either side of the fence as it affects individuals. For those chosing to become inspectors, go for it - easy, if a little dull, money. It will happen at some point