As you cannot have failed to notice, the government are radically changing the way we will be buying and selling homes in the future with the introduction of Home Information Packs.

This will affect England and Wales next summer and thereafter a similar scheme is to be launched in Scotland sometime in 2008.

The RICS has recently published some useful information to explain the changes in the April/May 2006 issue of The Residential Property Journal. This is available as a PDF download. Articles include:

• Small pack, big business: Home Information Packs explained

• Estate agency: Getting ready for HIPs

• Spot the difference: How the new HCR differes from existing residential surveys

• The HCR explained: Home Condition Reports in details

• An inspector calls: Philip Lane takes a closer look at the HI Diploma

• Energy efficiency: Implementing the EPBD

• Scotland: Homebuying shake-up in Scotland enters new stage

PDF download

Source : RICS