Plans to introduce home information packs (HIPs) have been left in tatters after minister, Ruth Kelly, announced the scheme had been reduced and delayed by a month. The communities and local government secretary told MPs on Tuesday (22 May) the packs would now be phased in from August rather than 1 June, and would start with four-bedroom properties. The announcement came barely two hours ahead of a House of Lords vote on the issue, and followed a High Court ruling on a legal challenge by the Chartered Institute of Surveyors over a failure to consult. The minister also admitted there were not enough inspectors. Michael Gove, Conservative Shadow minister for housing, said: ‘Ministers should now come clean, and take Home Information Packs back to the drawing board. ‘It would seem that the only thing Labour ministers care about is how to minimise their embarrassment over yet another U-turn, while tackling climate change and helping first-time buyers have been relegated to after-thoughts.' Other critics had included the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), representing officers, who warned the £200 fixed penalty for failing to provide the pack was less than its £600 cost. TSI chief executive, Ron Gainsford, claimed the scheme was now unviable. ‘We anticipate at this stage that such is the level of potential consumer and business unreadiness, the volume of demand for trading standards advice and support will outstrip its capacity to deliver.' He also warned funding for HIPs from central government could be diverted from trading standards departments because it was not ring-fenced. Lib Dem housing spokeswoman, Baroness Scott, also raised doubts. ‘Instead of waiting on the results of pilot schemes, it (the Government) is recklessly pressing ahead and expecting the public to pick up the pieces if it all goes wrong,' she said.
