Home information packs scrapped

Controversial home information packs were scrapped by the Government today.

Property sellers will no longer be required to spend money on providing Hips before they can market their homes.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles today suspended the need for the packs, which cost people selling their houses up to £400.

Campaigners criticised Hips, introduced in 2007, arguing they failed to help home buyers and discouraged people from putting their property on the market.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats pledged in their coalition agreement to get rid of the packs.

Energy performance certificates, which show how energy efficient a property is, will be retained.

Housing minister Grant Shapps said: "Today the new Government is ensuring that home information packs are history.

"This is a great example of how we are determined to get straight down to work and cut pointless red tape which is strangling the market.

"By suspending home information packs today, it means that home sellers will be able to get on with marketing their home without having to shell out hundreds of pounds up front.

"From now on all that will be required will be an energy performance certificate."

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers estimates there are between 3,000 and 10,000 people whose livelihoods are either directly or indirectly dependent on Hips.

The announcement came as David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg promised an "extensive" reform agenda to rebuild Britain.

Mr Cameron claimed the state had got "too big for its boots" and promised to hand power back to the people.