Government timeline for Home Information Pack reform published

Citation

(2006), "Government timeline for Home Information Pack reform published", Structural Survey, Vol. 24 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2006.11024cab.008

Government timeline for Home Information Pack reform published

Government timeline for Home Information Pack reform published

Keywords: Housing, Legislation

Key milestones for the Home Information Pack programmes have been published, setting out what Government and industry need to do to ensure that Home Information Packs are successfully launched to consumers on 1 June 2007.

Key points in the timeline include:

March 2006

Government gave the go-ahead for multiple certification schemes, meaning lower set-up costs for industry and robust standards set by Government to ensure quality Home Inspectors and a trusted, objective Home Condition Report for consumers. A number of organisations which are interested in becoming certification schemes have already come forward and the Government is considering their proposals and over 3,000 people are already going through training for the Home Inspector qualification.

April 2006

Government launch a HIP publicity campaign to industry and details of a three-phased product launch and dry run will be published.

June 2006

Draft regulations are made setting out the detailed contents of Home Information Packs, rules governing the availability of packs, exceptions from the pack duties and arrangements for enforcement.

June 2006-June 2007

A three phase approach to product testing – that builds up to Government and industry testing across all aspects of the process, involving estate agents, solicitors, pack providers, lenders and others who play a part in delivering Home Information Packs to consumers, from ensuring that Certifications Schemes are up and running, so that Home Inspectors can register Home Condition Reports, to offering voluntary packs to consumers in advance of mandatory implementation.

Summer of 2006

The Summer of 2006 will also see the launch of a series of geographical industry-led trials.

September 2006

Government approve the first Certification Schemes to oversee the work of Home Inspectors. The schemes will be set up and run by industry. Government will set the standards that the schemes will operate. In September the Home Condition Report Register contract will be agreed. A fully operational register will follow as soon as possible afterwards.

November 2006-June 2007

The product testing continues with phases two and three leading the programme into implementation on 1 June 2007. By now, lenders will be able to use information from the Home Condition Report for valuation purposes, resulting in less on-site valuation and costs savings for consumers.

March 2007

Review of the outcomes of the final phase of the product launch make final adjustments ready for going live 1 June 2007.

April 2007

Public awareness publicity campaign is launched.

The detail of the timeline will be further developed in partnership with industry and be continuously updated. Part of the response to this time frame from the RICS is:

As a public interest body we are committed to working with Government and other stakeholders to help provide a better home buying experience for consumers. Government and industry need to work together to deliver these reforms, but Government has not yet provided the environment within which this can happen. The industry cannot be expected to develop a framework to qualify and regulate professionals to work in this field while the rules of the game are continually changing, particularly when these are emerging without proper consultation and agreement.