Conveyancers are to discuss the possibility of “skinny” Home Information Packs being introduced by the Government.

The then Chancellor George Osborne said in his Budget back in March that the Government would “shortly” be issuing a call for evidence about speeding up the home buying and selling process. Six months later, that call has not been made.

However, the Conveyancing Association has put HIPs on its agenda for its ‘Modernising Conveyancing’ Conference on December 1.

Delivering the keynote address will be Baroness Hayter, who recently tabled questions on behalf of the CA to the Government on how improvements could be made to the home buying process.

The conference will also deal with specific questions such as:

  • What exactly is wrong with the home buying process? An opportunity to analyse the problems and what can be done to improve them.
  • How can the various stakeholders in the process work better together to deliver a collaborative home moving experience? Who is best placed to provide upfront information – estate agent, conveyancer or client?
  • Leasehold is a nightmare – what can we do about it? How to cut down on the delays and the cost?
  • What can be done to reduce the number of abortive transactions and reduce the cost to clients of wasted fees?
  • Are we going ‘Back to the future’? Will we be considering ‘skinny HIPs’ and the provision of more upfront information in order to improve the process?

Eddie Goldsmith, chairman of the Conveyancing Association, said: “This is definitely a pivotal moment for the conveyancing industry and the home purchase process itself.”