Hips labelled "untrustworthy"

Posted: 31 Jul 2007 11:04:29 GMT

The Conservatives have launched a last-ditch attempt to derail Home information packs (Hips) just hours before they are due to be introduced.

The Conservatives have launched a last-ditch attempt to derail Home information packs (Hips) just hours before they are due to be introduced.

Hips will become a mandatory part of the home selling process for properties with four or more bedrooms from tomorrow (August 1st) but opposition to the controversial packs remains strong in some quarters.

The Tories are claiming that the packs may lead buyers into a false sense of security as it is not mandatory that they include information on flood risk or other environmental hazards.

This can include land contamination and subsidence, with the Conservatives saying that the credibility of Hips is highly questionable.

"Labour's refusal to tell people whether a family home is liable to flooding or is built on contaminated land delivers a fatal blow to the credibility of these so-called 'information' packs," said Grant Shapps, Conservative shadow minister for Housing.

"By the government's own admission, one in ten new homes is already being built in areas at a high risk of flooding.

"Home sellers have no incentive to pay extra to include flood risk information in their pack, making Hips utterly untrustworthy and misleading," he added.

His comments follow those made by Conservative MP Eric Pickles on July 30th which raised fears that Hips will be used to introduce a council tax revaluation via the "backdoor".

© Houseladder Ltd