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Government promises home information packs by 2007

The government has said that Home Information Packs will be introduced early in 2007, announcing plans for a “dry run” of the scheme, which it claims will transform the housing market.

The plans to introduce compulsory reports on homes before they are put up for sale will “inject much needed transparency” into the process of buying and selling properties, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said.

The scheme will provide an insurance policy for homebuyers, who are often left out of pocket when sales fall through.

The reports will collate key information about a property's condition, energy efficiency and ownership before houses are marketed and draft regulations covering the legal content of the packs will be published shortly, the department confirmed.

Housing minister Yvette Cooper said that good progress had been made following talks between government and industry about elements of the scheme, including the introduction of Home Condition Report Registers and the accreditation of home inspectors who will prepare reports on the state of properties.

She also announced plans to pilot the Home Information Packs in 2006, as part of a dry run which is expected to monitor a representative sample of buyers, sellers, estate agents and others testing out the new process.

"The programme’s development, including proposals for the Home Condition Report Registers and the ‘dry run’ in 2006 is in good shape and industry involvement with Government should ensure that public confidence continues to grow in the build up to the packs’ introduction early in 2007," said Ms Cooper.

Under the plans, the cost of Home Information Packs will be met by sellers, who would pay for the service on the completion of a sale.

But the National Association of Estate Agents claims that because estate agents or inspection firms will have to meet the cost of the packs at the outset, independent agents will face a heavy financial burden.