Archived News

Home Information Packs on Trial

2 May 2007

A trial of Home Information Packs began in six areas in November 2006, with a view to ironing out any problems before the full introduction, scheduled for June 2007.

The trials, in Southampton, Newcastle, Northampton, Bath, Huddersfield and Cambridge, are including the use of the Home Condition Report. This was originally intended as a compulsory part of the packs. But a Government U-turn in the summer means the Home Condition Reports will now be voluntary, at least at first.

The Home Condition Report would be the most expensive part of the pack. But in July, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper, announced that this part of the scheme needed further testing and would not come into force in June 2007.

This does not mean, however, that the Home Condition Reports, which are basically a type of survey paid for by the seller rather than the buyer, will never be compulsory.

The Home Information Packs make it the seller’s responsibility to collate information about the property before it is sold. From June the packs will include:

Terms of sale
Evidence of title
Copies of planning, listed building or building regulations consents
A local search
Guarantees for any work on the property
An energy performance certificate.

The Government favours Home Information Packs as a way to combat gazumping, to save buyers from wasted expenses, and to combat the problem of house-buying chains that collapse.

If you have any questions about the new Home Information Packs, please contact Elaine on 01753 774010, or email egates@hclaw.co.uk. Our conveyancers are, of course, perfectly placed to help you with all your house buying and selling requirements.