With only 8 days to go before the intended implementation of Home Information Packs (HIPs), the Government yesterday announced that these will now be delayed. Wards Solicitors feel that the delay, which is the latest in a series of climb downs, confirms the fact that the Government has lost the plot on HIPs. It adds to the confusion surrounding HIPs and increases the period of uncertainty for all those involved in conveyancing.

The climb down came as a result of a successful legal challenge by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, based on lack of consultation by the Government in pursuing its proposals. This followed on from an unsuccessful Conservative challenge in the Commons and heavy criticism from the House of Lords Select Committee, which noted the hostility and lack of support from all key professionals in the industry.

Instead of HIPs being implemented on 1 June, they will now only apply from 1 August 2007 to property with four bedrooms or more. The intention is to extend them to smaller properties as ‘rapidly as possible’, although Ruth Kelly failed to define the time scale., and also refused to be drawn on what the legal definition of ‘four bedrooms’ would be.

The reason for the delay is the current lack of trained assessors to deliver the Energy Performance Certificates, which are now part of the Home Information Pack and which the Government refuses to introduce separately.

Susan Ellis, a property partner at Wards says: “The original stated purpose of Home Information Packs was to improve home buying and selling, increase the speed of transactions and reduce wasted costs. Now the Government’s main focus seems to be about making HIPs deliver its green agenda. However, adding expensive red tape is not going to improve the conveyancing process.”

Wards, along with many other property professionals, believe that the legal elements of the HIP are now so diluted as to be meaningless in achieving any of the stated objectives. Susan adds: “We feel the Government should now abandon what is left of the current ill-conceived and now completely discredited HIP proposals, deal with Energy Performance Certificates separately and re-focus on its ongoing e-conveyancing measures. Wards were involved in the original Sellers Pack trial and support any sensible conveyancing initiative. Indeed, we are currently involved in the Land Registry’s Chain Matrix Pilot and see future improvements lie with the Government’s e-conveyancing initiative”.