Home Information Packs delayed

Communities secretary Ruth Kelly has announced that the introduction of Home Information Packs will be delayed until August. They will then become compulsory for sales of homes with four bedrooms or more.

The packs were originally planned to be compulsory for anyone selling their home from the 1st of June.

Home Information Packs will now be phased in. The delay comes after mounting criticism of the packs, including a legal challenge from The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

The challenge said there had been a lack of consultation about the introduction of the packs and that there are not enough people trained to carry out the checks needed to issue energy efficiency certificates.

Ruling on the challenge, a judge proposed leaving out the energy efficiency certificates "for the time being".

However, these certificates have increasingly been used to justify the packs, as critics have claimed they will do nothing to speed up sales in the housing market.

Ruth Kelly said phasing in Home Information Packs means they will include the energy efficiency section.

Home Information Packs will contain the evidence of title, copies of any planning or listed building consents, guarantees for any work on the property and the energy efficiency certificate. They are expected to cost around £300.

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