Home Information Packs criticised

A House of Lords select committee looking at the introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPs) has described opposition to them as “striking” and “widespread”.

House sellers in England and Wales will have to supply Home Information Packs from 1st June. These will contain title deeds, local search, guarantees for any work, energy performance certificate and copies of any planning, listed building or building regulation consents.

Plans for the Home Information Packs to contain a home condition report – a type of building survey – have been dropped.

Much of the criticism about Home Information Packs has come from estate agents and legal bodies, who say they have not had enough time to prepare for their introduction.

Lord Filkin, chairman of the Lords Select Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments said: “The comments which we have received from key stakeholder organisations in the housing market are striking in the strength of their criticisms.

“Such comments may not invalidate the purposes of the regulations, but we believe that the government needs to take such criticism seriously and do more if the market is to respond seriously.

“[The Lords Select Committee has] rarely seen such widespread opposition to proposals.”

However, Mike Ockenden, director general of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers said the committee had only spoken to opponents of the packs. He said: “They did not seek evidence from us or other bodies which are looking forward to the introduction of Home Information Packs. The report is both slanted and jaundiced.”

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