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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Home seller's pack trial starts | Home seller's pack trial starts |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A trial of new home information packs (HIPs) is starting in six locations around England. | A trial of new home information packs (HIPs) is starting in six locations around England. |
| The packs will become a part of the home-buying process, with the seller having any surveys done before putting a property on the market. | The packs will become a part of the home-buying process, with the seller having any surveys done before putting a property on the market. |
| Southampton, Newcastle, Northampton, Bath, Huddersfield and Cambridge are the six test areas - sellers will not have to pay for the packs. | Southampton, Newcastle, Northampton, Bath, Huddersfield and Cambridge are the six test areas - sellers will not have to pay for the packs. |
| But it is expected that HIPs will become mandatory in June 2007. | But it is expected that HIPs will become mandatory in June 2007. |
| The new Home Information Packs (HIPs) for England and Wales will shift the emphasis from the buyer to the seller to collate information about the property before it is sold. | The new Home Information Packs (HIPs) for England and Wales will shift the emphasis from the buyer to the seller to collate information about the property before it is sold. |
| The packs will include: Evidence of titleCopies of planning, listed building or building regulations consentsA local searchGuarantees for any work on the propertyAn energy performance certificate. | The packs will include: Evidence of titleCopies of planning, listed building or building regulations consentsA local searchGuarantees for any work on the propertyAn energy performance certificate. |
| Stephen Hayter, a chartered surveyor and sales director of a conveyancing firm, said: "It's a major change. It takes the emphasis away from the buyer and makes sure the seller puts information up front. | Stephen Hayter, a chartered surveyor and sales director of a conveyancing firm, said: "It's a major change. It takes the emphasis away from the buyer and makes sure the seller puts information up front. |
| "Many sellers and buyers do appreciate seeing information early in the process rather than too late." | "Many sellers and buyers do appreciate seeing information early in the process rather than too late." |
| The government has set aside £4m to be used during the trial, to encourage sellers to take up voluntary packs. | |
| In July Housing Minister Yvette Cooper announced that the controversial home condition report needed further testing and would not come into force in June 2007. | In July Housing Minister Yvette Cooper announced that the controversial home condition report needed further testing and would not come into force in June 2007. |
| Splinta, a group opposing the introduction of HIPs, has questioned the objectivity and validity of the trials, despite government assurances. |