Government delays full home pack rollout

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:15:05 +0100

The full rollout of Home Information Packs (HIPs) has been delayed until the end of the year, prompting calls for the government to abandon the initiative.

HIPs were originally meant to be introduced for all homes in England and Wales last summer but a last minute government volte-face instead saw the packs gradually phased in. They were finally introduced for homes of all sizes last December.

However, the government currently allows home sellers to put their homes on the market without a HIP so long as one has been commissioned. This concession - known as the ‘first day marketing’ rule - was due to end in June, but the government has now announced an extension until the end of the year.