The Law Society's home information packs task force welcomed the government's decision to make the most contentious part of the pack - the home condition report (HCR) - voluntary, and said the move would bring benefits for consumers.


Housing minister Yvette Cooper announced last week that when the packs are rolled out on 1 June 2007, they will only have to contain searches, other legal documents, and an energy performance certificate.


Ms Cooper said further industry testing of HCRs was required and the government was now looking at a progressive voluntary take-up.


She admitted that a shortage of home inspectors and advice that many lenders would not be able to rely on the reports until 2008/09 were factors behind the U-turn.


Paul Marsh, Law Society Deputy Vice-President and a member of the task force, said the Society had opposed compulsory HCRs, as buyers could not rely on a survey commissioned and paid for by sellers, but said the revised packs could bring real benefits to consumers.



Catherine Baksi