Nick Raynsford has promised to push the controversial seller’s packs legislation through Parliament if he remains Housing and Planning Minister after the General Election, despite the reservations of some agents.
Raynsford told EGi that he would do all he could to get the Bills passed. “If I get re-elected and continue to hold my position I will be pushing to have the Bills reintroduced as soon as possible.”
The Homes Bill, which contains provisions for the introduction of the seller’s packs, and the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, were scrapped this week due to lack of time before the General Election.
But others are less willing to see the seller’s pack legislation resurrected. Gary Murphy of Allsop & Co gave EGi his personal view. “Personally I shan’t miss it. I think it’s been hurried, and it’s based on a survey where the packs were supplied free. Ultimately the cost of the packs – £200 to £400 – falls on the vendor, and that makes a difference.”
He added: “If you don’t supply a seller’s pack you are subject to a fine and a criminal record. I don’t want to be liable for criminal sanctions if one of my clients fails to get a survey to me in time for day one of marketing. It should be up to the individual – if you want a seller’s pack, then you can get one.”
But Hugh Dunsmore-Hardy, of the National Association of Estate Agents, feels that the seller’s packs legislation is essential. “Without it we’re still going to have an absence of transparency and a high level of fall-through. Some people were worried about it because it means change. There is an element of inertia in the industry.”
The RICS’s Michael Chambers also approves of the legislation’s resurrection. “If the seller’s pack is not reintroduced in the new Queen’s Speech on 20 June we’d be absolutely appalled. We’ve been working with the Government for three years on seller’s packs, and we think that they are in the public interest.”
There would be a “window of opportunity” for the Bill to be passed early after the election, Chambers added. “At that time they won’t have had the time to gear up any other Bills. They’ve got four or five weeks before the summer recess that could be used.”
Raynsford agreed that the legislation could be passed in the first few weeks of the next Parliament, although it would not be his decision. “Its an obvious candidate for an early start and that window would be perfect,” he said. He also said that the reason for the Bill’s failure in the Lords was not because of lack of time, but “because of the Conservative opposition’s refusal to make progress with the Bill”.
“It’s unheard of that a bill, which was unopposed in its third hearing, should be opposed later. But it’s typical of this opposition’s sniper tactics,” Raynsford continued.
The Bill, however, had not been fast-tracked by the Government and was unlikely to get through before an election was called.
EGi News 09/05/01
