Home sellers' packs begin their 'dry run'

November 19, 2004
The Tories yesterday welcomed a “significant concession” from the Government to trial home sellers’ packs before they become compulsory nationwide.

The change to the Housing Bill, which comes into force today, was first announced in the Lords on Tuesday. It would ensure that pilot schemes take place before the new rules come into force in 2007.

A new clause allows Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to scrap the packs, expected to cost £350 to £1,000 each, after “rigorous research and testing” in the trials.

Sellers' packs, or Home Information Packs, are designed to include searches, surveys, planning consents and a home condition report on properties for sale, so buyers are provided with all the facts necessary before making an offer.

Once the rules come into effect anyone who puts their home up for sale without a Home Information Pack will be breaking the law and could face a fine of £200.

Outlining the concessions in the Commons, Housing Minister Keith Hill said the Government would not introduce compulsory packs nationwide “unless we are sure the industry and the public are ready”.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consult with the industry to set up a compulsory trial of the packs in an area or areas yet to be agreed.

A national voluntary dry run will also take place.

Mr Hill said the Bill was flexible enough to allow the contents of the packs to be varied, to exclude certain types of property from the compulsory scheme or to let sellers complete parts of the packs later in a sale, according to the results of the pilots.

For Tories, John Hayes praised Mr Hill for “having the courage to make a significant concession”. He said the packs were “unneeded, unnecessary and unhelpful” and he had “no doubt...the trial will be a failure”.

A Tory government would use the new clause in the Bill to suspend the packs immediately, he added.