The move will allow greater transparency for buyers in the property market and will require sellers to provide prospective buyers with relevant information including, the structural condition of the property, details of the title and deeds, as well as local authority planning records, such as planning consent. The Home Information Packs will also shift the onus of finding the information about a property from the buyer to the seller.
Emma Harrison, Senior Public Affairs Officer, Consumers’ Association, said:
"Consumers’ Association has been campaigning on this issue to expose the failures in the current system and the lack of information freely available to consumers. CA is therefore delighted that the Government has again gone on record as being committed to Home Information Packs.
"Once these packs are introduced consumers will be able to make more informed decisions when deciding whether to make an offer on a property. The packs should also take some of the heartache out of buying by helping prevent failed transactions, often caused by poor survey results and legal issues."
