Forum Brief: Housing information packs

MPs have said that the government's plans for home information packs may not have been properly piloted.

The warning came in a report from the Commons committee on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the draft Housing Bill.

Keith Hill, housing minister, said: "I welcome the select committee's report and will give careful consideration to their recommendations.

"The draft bill is a central element in delivering sustainable communities by tackling some of the most pressing problems in housing.

"The bill will make more homes decent, tackle neighbourhood decline, anti-social behaviour. It will also contribute to the supply of affordable housing and make home buying and selling easier.

"The Consumers' Association has full confidence in our proposals. Home information pack proposals are backed by hard evidence, including the most extensive research ever carried out into the process, international comparisons and wide ranging consultation. Key stakeholders, including the professional bodies have been involved in that research.

"Extensive research has been carried out in a wide range of areas and property markets with further research currently underway. The draft Bill provides a power for the Secretary of State to make different provisions for different areas, allowing special provision to be made for applying the pack in particular areas - such as areas with very low property values and low demand."

Forum Response: National Association of Estate Agents

Melfyn Williams, president of the NAEA, said: "I am delighted with the findings of the select committee as it shows that they are finally listening to our recommendations.

"We welcome these conclusions and believe the NAEA and government should work together, as our 9,000 members all have an active role in the market and are best placed to assist the government.

"Our members are directly in touch with buyers and sellers and can provide a first hand resource."

Forum Response: Council of Mortgage Lenders

Michael Coogan, director general of the CML, said: "This report gets right to the heart of the areas that the government urgently needs to address if HIPs are going to work.

"The CML and others have been warning for some time how important it is to iron out these problems before rolling out the legislation.

"Hopefully, the select committee report will now encourage the government to work through the problem areas before introducing the Housing Bill into parliament."

Forum Response: British Property Federation

Anna Ring, policy officer at the BPF, told ePolitix.com: "We welcomed the select committee's Inquiry and its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Housing Bill. However, we are disappointed that the committee's report has not raised many of our concerns, particularly in relation to the licensing of HMOs and the selective licensing of Landlords.

"On the issue of the licensing of HMOs, while we recognise the need to address the problems created by HMOs, we are concerned that the way that the bill is currently drafted means that the definition for an HMO extends beyond what would commonly be thought of as an HMO. Under the definition, converted self-contained flats which do not meet the 1991 Building Regulations, would be included.

"This will lead to iniquities and add to the complexity of the policing and enforcement of this system. The select committee's recommendation to widen this definition does not address these concerns.

"We would like to see a tighter clearer definition written into the face of the bill to ensure that the system of licensing for HMOs is workable and enforceable.

"Similarly, on the selective licensing of landlords, we are concerned that the committee has recommended extending the power licence to all local authorities. We are concerned that selective licensing may not have the desired effect and may drives standards down rather than raise them.

"The committee's recommendation to allow all areas to introduce licensing goes against the government's aim of targeting measures where they are most needed.

"The select committee has recommended that the proposals for tax incentives linked to landlords competence be taken forward. We welcome this kind of measure and believe that together with targeted regulation, it is the best way to raise standards and encourage Landlords to remain in the sector."