Nobody knows for certain whether home information packs (HIPs) will go ahead on 1 August or at all. It remains to be seen whether the government will heed Denis Healey's advice that 'when you get into a hole, stop digging'.


If the introduction of HIPs is phased in gradually, it would be no bad thing both for solicitors and the consumer. Solicitors can afford to run on low volumes initially because HIPs are part of their core business of conveyancing, which remains in place regardless.



However, it is difficult to see how those whose sole reason for being in the HIPs market is to make a profit from pack-provision can survive.



Indeed, there are already stories of HIP providers laying off staff due to the uncertainty which now prevails.



Richard Atkins, Taylor Walton, Luton