The Office of the Deputy Prime (ODPM) yesterday set out a timetable highlighting what the government and industry had to do to ensure that Home Information Packs (Hips) would be successfully launched to consumers in June 2007.

The Office of the Deputy Prime (ODPM) yesterday set out a timetable highlighting what the government and industry had to do to ensure that Home Information Packs (Hips) would be successfully launched to consumers in June 2007.

Hips, expected to cost between £650 and £1,000, will require people in England and Wales who want to sell their property to compile a portfolio of information on it, which will include a Home Condition Report.

Between April and June of this year, the government will be launching a Hip campaign to industries, publish details of a three-phased product launch and dry run and set out the contents of the packs.

The three-phase process, taking place between June 2006 and 2007, will test all aspects of the process for those who will be involved in delivering Hips to consumers, such as estate agents and solicitors.

Certification schemes will be implemented so that Home Inspectors can register Home Condition Reports, a compulsory part of the pack. Voluntary packs will also be offered to consumers in advance of the mandatory implementation.

Minister for housing Yvette Cooper said that Hips would "prevent waste and significantly cut the number of sales that fall through".

Other industry figures have not been as positive about the expected June 2007 implementation. Philip Davies, of Linden Homes, said that the information that Hips provide would already be available to most purchasers and that Hips would simply delay property sales.