‘Poor preparation’ led to delays over watered down HIPs

The Government was ill-prepared and showed a lack of nerve when it delayed the introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPs) last year.

That’s the conclusion of a report by the select committee of MPs which monitors the work of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) – the department responsible for introducing HIPs.

HIPs were highlighted by the Government in 2006 as a key priority for the coming year.

The select committee’s critical report says:

“Within weeks of this the then Secretary of State Ruth Kelly announced that the pack would not include a mandatory Home Condition Report, intended to save house buyers the cost and time spent purchasing expensive surveys of their own.

“HIPs should have then been rolled out in June 2007 but were introduced two months late in August following considerable uncertainty and then only for homes with four or more bedrooms. Three-bedroomed homes were added in September, Only in December 2007 were the weakened HIPs being introduced for all homes marketed for sale.”

The Government said the decision to remove Home Condition Reports from HIPs was taken because there weren’t enough trained inspectors to provide them but the select committee’s report dismisses this explanation saying:

"There were not enough inspectors because DCLG first watered down and then repeatedly delayed the introduction of HIPs.”

HIPs have always proved controversial ever since the idea was first put forward but watered down or not, they are now compulsory when selling a home in England and Wales. Please contact us if you would like more information about HIPs and how to obtain one.