Sanders Welcomes Government Climb Down on Home Information Packs

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Jul 2006

Bay MP, Adrian Sanders, has today welcomed the apparent Government climb down on Home Information Packs (HIPs) which sees the introduction of the packs delayed due to lack of trained inspectors.

Adrian commented,

"There are only some 3% of the required 7,500 inspectors who are already trained and ready to undertake the administration of HIPs; the situation is a mess."

Adrian warned against the packs last month and called on the government to reconsider their position.

Adrian said,

"In some ways the delay is good news for people in Torbay who are already over burdened when it comes to buying property locally. However, it is disappointing that it seems that there may only be a delay; I hope that this delay will make the government realise that the whole thing is a shambles and stop their introduction."

Indications have been given that the packs could increase the cost of purchasing a house by around £1000.

Adrian added,

"The wage to house price gap in Torbay is already unacceptably high and an introduction of a new 'tax' on purchasing property is only going to make the situation worse."