Invasions of privacy fear blights home information packs

Home sellers may have to make available a wide range of sensitive information about their homes to the general public if home information packs become compulsory, warns the Law Society.

The Government plans to introduce home information packs in the Housing Bill, which is currently being considered by parliamentarians. Home information packs will provide very detailed information about people’s homes including such items as security systems.

Under proposed legislation, any member of the public, whether they intend to buy the home or not, will be able to insist on getting a copy of the home information pack. This could be open to serious abuse by burglars, stalkers and snoopers.

Property sellers face breaking the law if they give misleading, inaccurate or incomplete information in the packs, previously called sellers’ packs.

Janet Paraskeva, Law Society Chief Executive, believes the Government’s plans are flawed;

“Currently people viewing properties make an offer and their identities are verified by solicitors so sellers can be reasonably confident they are dealing with genuine buyers. Sensitive information about the property is only available to a genuine buyer through solicitors".

Anyone could walk into an estate agents and discover information about burglar alarms, defective doors, bad windows and the construction of properties. This could be extremely dangerous and could put people at risk. Celebrities like David Beckham would be obvious targets if this becomes law.

The Law Society is also urging the Government to make the packs voluntary.

Ms Paraskeva comments; “If Home Information Packs are appealing to consumers, market demand will see them adopted. If the packs are compulsory, homeowners will have no choice but include this additional information at the outset of marketing properties.

The Law Society believes home information packs will delay the marketing of properties and cost sellers several hundred pounds – money which could be wasted if the property is not sold immediately. Many home buyers will not rely on information in the packs and they will not satisfy consumers requiring a full structural survey.

The Law Society also supports amendments which will protect sellers from unnecessary expense in areas where the housing market is static by exempting them from having to produce packs.

Author; The Law Society

The Law Society regulates and represents the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales and has a public interest role in working for reform of the law. Solicitors in Scotland and Northern Ireland are represented by the Law Societies in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively

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