16.08 Improving Consumer Information in the Home Information Pack

The Government has set out for consultation proposals for improving the quality and flow of information provided by the introduction of Home Improvements Packs (HIPS).

The proposals set out in this consultation are intended to provide consumers with information they need, in a form that they can readily relate to and use.

The paper proposes two key changes to achieve this:

• simplifying the leasehold requirements within the HIP
• introducing a Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) as a required document within the HIP to provide the type of information most useful to a buyer when considering a property.

These proposals have been developed with property professionals and consumer bodies and draw on the lessons from Area Trials.

The consultation can be accessed on the following Communities and Local Government Website:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/hipconsumerconsultation

The submission date for responses is 30th September 2008.