HIPs won’t cover some online sales

A loophole in Home Information Pack regulations means that some online property sales will be able to go ahead without the packs.

A government official confirmed that if an agent does not charge the property seller, they are "not an estate agent for the purpose of Home Information Pack regulations".

Also, the Home Information Pack law requires a pack for homes marketed for sale, not those that are privately negotiated between the home buyer and seller.

An increasing number of companies that bring individual buyers and sellers together for a home buyers’ fee will be able to take advantage of the loophole.

Home Information Packs are to be phased in for all four-bedroom homes from the 1st of August. They will eventually be introduced for all marketed homes.

However, the House of Lords continued its opposition to the packs with a recent non-binding ballot. Although the government can ignore this, the Lords voted to scrap Home Information Packs.

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