HIPs PILOT STUDIES SHOW POLICY IS FAILING - OPIK

2.34.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 6th Mar 2008

The Liberal Democrats have said that the Government's Home Information Packs (HIPs) are failing, following the publication of the scheme's pilot studies report today.

The study found that:

• Almost 60% of buyers did not see the HIP early enough in the house buying process

• After their property had been sold, sellers were less likely to agree that their HIP had helped sell their property (fell than 44% to 22% of sellers)

• 58% of buyers did not agree that HIPs speed up the buying process

• Over three quarters of buyers said that the HIP had no effect on their decision to purchase their property

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, Lembit Opik said:

"The Government has gone about this entire process the wrong way round.

"Even the Government's own research shows that HIPs aren't working as they should. Why weren't these facts made public before the national roll-out?

"HIPs are now compulsory for all properties coming on the market but ministers have only now given in to our pressure and released the results of these pilot studies.

"I will be asking the Government whether they have any plans to suspend HIPs until they can be proved to work."