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Home Information Pack update

4th April 2006

The Home Information Pack is a Government initiative to reform the home buying and selling process. The pack is being introduced under the Housing Act 2004, and will become mandatory in England and Wales from 1 June 2007. In October/November 2005, the ODPM published a consultation document seeking comments on the drafting, accuracy and practical application of the provisions set out in the regulations and in the associated guidance documents for the Home Information Pack. The closing date for responses was the end of last year. The Electrical Safety Council took the opportunity to submit comments on behalf of consumers, with the aim of ensuring that electrical safety issues are adequately covered in the final documentation.

The key points raised in the response, and what the Council would like to see are:

More emphasis being given to electrical safety in dwellings, and in particular the recognition of the importance of inspecting and testing electrical installations, both existing and new, and the issuing of an appropriate certificate or report
A requirement for the Home Information Pack to contain the important information that members of government-approved Part P schemes are required to provide, such as the Building Control Compliance Certificate and evidence that electrical installation work is covered by an insurance-backed warranty
Adequate resources being made available to ensure that the enforcement of the new regulations is effective.

The Electrical Safety Council is very supportive of this Government initiative, and would like to help ensure that the Home Information Pack is introduced successfully. The Council also intends to work with other stakeholders to harness the views of the electrical industry as the pack is piloted and introduced.

A pdf of the Electrical Safety Council's full response to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister can be viewed here.