The long-awaited announcement of the 'go-live' date (1 June 2007 in England & Wales with Scotland to follow shortly after) for Home Information Packs (HIPs), has been welcomed by RICS.

This will bring certainty to the market but RICS remains convinced that success will depend upon public confidence in those responsible for delivering the reforms.

RICS spokesperson Jeremy Leaf said:

"The announcement of the ‘go-live’ date will give certainty to the market and is a clear call to action for the industry. We now have a firm date to work towards, but the timeframe is a tight one."

"By working together, industry and government have made significant progress towards reforming the buying and selling process, but we still have a long way to go."

"The government’s own research shows that we will need up to 7 400 Home Inspectors to ensure the smooth introduction of the new regime."

"However, to date, only a handful of candidates have satisfactorily completed the Diploma in Home Inspection, the key prerequisite for obtaining a Home Inspector’s licence."

"If we are to ensure that the reforms are implemented as smoothly and effectively as possible, we need to pull together to deliver sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, well-regulated and experienced practitioners who enjoy public confidence."

Source : RICS