The government has announced in the Queen's Speech that draft legislation will be published to improve both housing standards and standards of management of private rented accommodation by landlords.

Forum Response: Consumers Association

Ashley Holmes, Head of Legal Affairs at Consumers' Association, said: "Under the current antiquated system, buying and selling a house turns out to be extremely traumatic for too many people.

"A Housing Bill, covering sellers packs, should take out most of the heartache from selling and buying a house. However, for it to really work, the government must make sure that all sellers are required to provide the sellers information pack. The government must also ensure that everyone involved in the house buying process is effectively regulated."

Forum Response: British Property Federation

A spokesman for the BPF said: "The key aspect of the government's proposals that will determine their success is the degree to which buyers are prepared to place their trust in the home condition report commissioned by their sellers.

"We remain sceptical that it will work and thus welcome the draft bill process as an opportunity for this to be scrutinised in detail. More generally, the government's plans for e-conveyancing will speed up transactions and may achieve many of its objectives without the need to legislate.

"HMO Licensing could help improve standards in this particular segment of the private rented sector and thus the BPF will not oppose its introduction providing we can be satisfied with the definition of a house in multiple occupation in the legislation.

"Any attempt by government, however, to introduce a more general form of licensing of the private rented sector, we would vigorously oppose on the basis of the costs it would impose and lack of proportionality.

"We will be seeking to ensure that any legislation on HMO's is clear, robust and can be applied consistently by local authorities - all imperatives if the proposals are to carry the support of landlords. There is a lot of consultation still required on this issue and the government is right to publish its proposals only as a draft bill."

Forum Response: Shelter

Ben Jackson, director of external affairs, said: "The proposed legislation to create more decent and affordable homes would help build more homes that so many people desperately need - the families and children whose health and well-being are being ruined by poor and damp emergency homes, as well as the thousands more unable to afford somewhere decent to live.

"The plans to improve standards of some private rented accommodation will help vulnerable tenants living in the worst privately rented property and ensure their homes are safe and secure. These proposals should be implemented urgently."

Forum Response: RICS

A spokesman for RICS told ePolitix.com: "RICS is pleased to see the inclusion of sellers packs in the new Homes Bill.

"The RICS position on homebuying reform has been one of general support but with some concerns as to the particular processes involved. We are now looking forward to working with the government on some of the more specific details so that the system can be brought into operation as soon as possible.

"The introduction of the pack will substantially speed up the process, create greater transparency and enable buyers to make informed decisions at the start of the buying process, rather than gather bits and pieces as the process gathers pace.

"The only losers will be timewasters and gazumpers. The fact that the pack involves a cost up front will mean only serious sellers will commit to the pack. As all the information needed to make an offer is available before any offer is made and not gathered together after, the quicker process between offer and acceptance will considerably reduce the opportunity for gazumping to take place.

"The number of people who make a decision on the biggest transaction of their lives, without sometimes the most basic of information about a property is frightening. The sellers pack will provide potential buyers with all the information they need, right up front."

Forum Response: Construction Products Association

Allan Wilen, economics director at the CPA, told ePolitix.com: "The association welcomes the housing bill, which will include the introduction of a sellers' pack to prevent 'gazumping'.

"The association believes that such packs should include a detailed assessment of property condition and energy efficiency in order to help improve the quality of homes across the country."

Forum Response: CABE

A spokesman for CABE told ePolitix.com: "CABE supports measures to improve the standards of housing and the management of private rented accommodation."

Governmental Response: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

A spokesman for the ODPM told ePolitix.com: "Sellers' Packs form part of the Draft Housing Bill, announced in the Queen's speech yesterday. The packs are designed to modernise an inefficient system. They will make the home buying and selling process more transparent, certain and consumer friendly.

"A key advantage is that Sellers' packs will reduce stress and wasted costs suffered by hundreds of thousands of consumers each year.

"Licensing regimes will be clearly targeted at where the most serious problems exist. Some of the worst housing conditions and highest risk to occupants exist in large multiply occupied property.

"Provision to introduce mandatory Housing Multiple Occupancy licensing, reform of housing, fitness and other measures, will help tackle poor conditions for the most vulnerable people.

"Raising standards in the worst parts of the private rented sector and by tackling unscrupulous landlords, their often anti-social tenants will be dealt with as well".