HIP - Home Information Pack

Last week brought us possibly one of the most unedifying sights possible - the Conservative Party cosying up to estate agents. They have joined forces to slate the new government initiative to improve the house-buying process - home information packs (HIPs).

The battle lines are drawn. On one side is deputy prime minister John Prescott. On the other is Kirstie Allsopp, the Location, Location, Location presenter better known for swooshing round properties in search of the perfect pad for hapless house hunters.

Latest broker research from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) has shown intermediaries' business volumes may be adversely by the introduction of home information packs (HIPs).

The Conservative Party has outlined its plans to help first-time buyers, including voting against the introduction of home information packs when the regulations are laid before parliament in the spring.

The Conservative party plans to pressurise the government into halting the introduction of home information packs (Hips).

You don't need property price indices to see that the house-selling market is hotting up. All around Britain you can hear the screams of anguish from buyers and sellers alike as they undergo the torture of dealing with unscrupulous estate agents and recalcitrant solicitors.