Homeowners facing £1,000 bill

Conservative peers are this evening attempting to defeat moves to introduce a system of "seller's packs" for those who put their home on the market.

The government wants sellers to compile a pack which will include a survey.

Legislation enacting the change is before the House of Lords later on Tuesday.

Critics, however, say the legislation will lead to sellers being forced to incur expenses of £1,000 regardless of whether they sell their home.

The Conservatives claim the bill will introduce a "poll tax" on those seeking to sell their home.

Tory housing spokesman Lord Hanningfield said: "The idea that everyone must have one of these packs before they sell their house is a nonsense. They will not speed up house buying or stop gazumping."

The government, however, believes the system will speed-up the process of buying and selling property.

Under the current approach surveys are the responsibility of the purchaser - which means that multiple surveys can be conducted on the same property.

Land searches, which can take up to a month, also delay the period between agreement to sell and the exchange of contracts between purchaser and seller.