In the great scheme of things, on the Bad Legislation Richter Scale, the Housing Act 2004 does not approach the severity of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill.  However, whilst the weighty issues involving the abolition of Parliament and identity cards have largely by-passed the consciousness of the general public, ironically it is this seemingly innocuous Act that is likely to hurt the public in a way that the public comprehends, that is to say, through the pocket.  It is likely therefore to inflict more damage upon the popularity of this Government than either the imposition of identity cards or an Act granting unnaturally wide and extensive powers to the Executive.  So far the Government has been able to plough ahead with its plans to introduce the so-called Home Information Packs (HIPs) by virtue of the said Act.

HIPs will do nothing for improving or smoothing the sale and purchase of residential property.  It will assist the Government (at the public's sole cost) in creating a data base regarding the state of its housing stock (as required by EU law.)  It will add unnecessary and substantial cost to the transaction of buying and selling a home and cause delay.

Many firms involved in the residential property market are so concerned at the effect of the HIPs that an action group SPLINTA (Sellers Pack Law Is Not The Answer) has been formed for the purpose of seeking to convince the Government of the error of its ways. It is not only "vested interests" (that is to say, the professionals who know what they are talking about) who are concerned.  For more details concerning HIPs, view this page comprising a Fact Sheet prepared by SPLINTA and a message from Kirstie Allsopp & Phil Spencer, presenters of the Channel 4 programme Location, Location, Location.