Over 6000 people signed a petition for the repeal of Home Information Packs

The National Association of Estate Agents’ (NAEA) e-petition against home information packs (HIPs) has now topped 6,000 signatures as strong feelings continue to be demonstrated against the government’s controversial plans. A consultation document released by the DCLG last week took steps to begin addressing some of the issues surrounding HIPs, but has not gone far enough to allay protestors’ serious concerns.

The packs, which are paid for by sellers and contain key information and documents about a property, have come under fire from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), who say Hips have a number of flaws and should be redesigned.

National Association of Estate Agents statement

"We were pleased to see the government begin take some of the issues we have raised over Hips seriously in its latest consultation document. The fact remains, however, that there are still a number of fundamental flaws with the Hip plans," commented NAEA chief executive Peter Bolton King.

Mr Bolton King added being unable to market a property without a Hip would have a "major impact" on the housing market, despite the government's recent reduction of the number of documents required in the pack before marketing can take place.

As well as the NAEA, property experts at Chesterton Global have also voiced concerns over Home Information Packs, saying they "run a real risk of causing major problems with the market in 2007".

"Conforming to the Hips process will prove to be a deterrent rather than a tool to improve selling, with the legislation acting to stifle the fluidity of the market place," said Robert Bartlett, Chesterton Global chief executive.

Mr Bartlett called for a halt to the Hips process "in favour of work with the residential property industry to solve the real issues of slow conveyancing times, non-committed parties and rogue agents".