Conservatives launch national campaign against "Dodgy HIPs"

The Home Information Packs, due to be introduced in June 2007, will require a potential seller to pay up to £1,000 to put their home on the market.

At the launch was Kirstie Allsopp, presenter of Location, Location, Location, joined by Michael Gove MP, Shadow Minister for Housing. Conservatives published a new campaign poster design attacking "Labour's dodgy HIPs". The campaign criticises the Packs since:

• Buyers will still need to pay for Valuations and surveys, in addition to sellers paying for the costly Pack.

• The Home Information Packs will not tell buyers about flood risk, natural subsidence, electrical safety, radon gas or contaminated land, meaning that potential buyers will not trust them.

• If the home is taken off the market for 28 days or more, the Seller must pay for a new updated Pack will be required if it is more than 3 months old; many lenders will not trust a HIP more than 6 months old even if the home remains on the market.

• Industry experts expect the cost of the HIPs to hit £1,000, with complex properties costing even more. Gordon Brown is expected to rake in £110 million in additional VAT receipts.

• There is no proper pilot scheme to test the controversial scheme, and there is currently a shortage of qualified, properly trained 'home inspectors'.

• Economic experts have warned that the Home Information Packs will depress the number of housing transactions, reduce Labour mobility and depress consumer spending.

Michael Gove MP, Shadow Minister for Housing & Planning, said: "The case for this pricey regulation is unravelling week by week as the small print is revealed. HIPs have not even been launched and they are already on their last legs."

He added: "If people trust these dodgy HIPs, I fear they will be lulled into a false sense of security. If they don't and commission their own survey, costs will be duplicated. Either way, home buyers and sellers will pay the price for this new Government red tape on the housing market."

Kirstie Allsopp added: "Moving home is one of the most stressful things anyone can do; I fear this new system will make it worse, not better. Rather than protecting consumers, these Sellers' Packs threaten the stability and health of the housing market."

"First time buyers in particular will be seriously affected - they're the ones most likely to nervous about this huge financial commitment, and will still need to obtain a valuation and survey. These Packs will be just an additional burden on top of soaring council tax bills, inheritance tax and stamp duty."