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Fears over inspectors as home information packs become law

Home information packs finally become law today amid persistent concerns that house sales could be held up by shortages of home inspectors in certain areas. The new regime is also bedevilled by claims that it is riddled with loopholes that will allow widespread avoidance.

The government denied there were shortages anywhere. But yesterday London was named a "pressure point" over the availability of domestic energy assessors, the officials who check energy efficiency before a property is put up for sale.

The packs, known as Hips, are for houses with four bedrooms or more. Vendors of such properties will need to assemble a pack, at a cost of £400-£500, and include in it detailed information about the property.

Only a few weeks ago some commentators claimed Hips were finished as ministers had to delay the scheme after ferocious criticism. A legal challenge and a shortage of assessors had postponed the scheme from a June 1 start. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) believes the policy's real test "will come when it is brought in on all properties".

If the first phase of Hips proves relatively trouble free, the scheme is likely to be extended to homes with three bedrooms within weeks. The government has said it should be covering all house sales by the end of the year.

Homes put on the market before today will not need to be advertised with a Hip, but a date will be set when all properties on the market will have.....continued below

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to have one.

In May, barely 500 of the 2,000 assessors needed were available, but the Department of Communities and Local Government said that, as of July 25, a total of 2,224 had become accredited, with a further 4,960 having passed their exams.

The region with the smallest number of fully qualified and approved assessors (79) is the north-east, while the area with the most (387) is the south-east. It is the capital's fast-moving property market that could prove the biggest test; there are 170 accredited assessors in London.

There has been no let-up in the opposition to the scheme. Rics said there was "still quite a lot of confusion out there in the marketplace", and the Conservatives said that town halls would struggle to enforce the packs.

FAQ: Hips

Did the government consider scrapping the Hips scheme?No, but it was watered down. Hips are mandatory from today for homes with four or more bedrooms

What about smaller homes?Three-bedroom homes are to be included within weeks, and all properties by the end of the year

Have all problems been resolved?Ministers say yes; critics say Hips are fatally flawed and unenforceable

How much will a Hip cost?£300-£500, paid by the seller through the marketing estate agent

Is it possible to avoid?Until the end of the year, properties can go up for sale as soon as a Hip has been commissioned

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