In a move which should prove popular with prospective home buyers, and reduce the threat of being gazumped, this government bill aims to speed-up the way houses and flats are bought and sold in England and Wales. Under the new legislation anyone selling a house will have to put together a "seller's pack" which would contain all the relevant surveys and searches in order that once the sale has been agreed, the exchange of contracts can take place soon afterwards.

However, pilot projects have not been universally popular with some in the legal profession, as well as mortgage lenders and surveyors, stressing that the system will not necessarily speed-up the house buying process - or make it cheaper.

The government says it believes the bill will make the home buying and selling process in England and Wales faster, more transparent and consumer friendly, fulfilling its commitment to tackle gazumping.

Under measures contained within the bill it will become a statutory requirement that before putting a home on the market, the seller or the sellers agent should be required to put together a pack of standard, essential information for prospective buyers. The contents of the sellers pack would be prescribed by statutory instrument and would include copies of the following documents: title documents; replies to standard preliminary enquiries made on behalf of buyers; any planning, listed building and building regulations consents and approvals; for new properties, warranties and guarantees; any guarantees for work carried out on the property; a draft contract; replies to standard searches made of the local authority and water company; and a home condition report based on a professional survey of the property.

For leasehold properties, the pack would also include documents such as the lease; the most-recent service charge accounts and receipts and building insurance details and payment receipts.

If the bill becomes law, it will be a criminal offence to market a home without a seller's pack. To avoid unnecessary court proceedings and unsuspecting home owners being caught up in sanctions, it is proposed that a fixed penalty system should be adopted.

The bill also contains measures to ensure that young people, particularly those aged 16 and 17 and leaving care, are given priority for local authority housing in a bid to tackle homelessness.

The purpose of the measures are to ensure that those who are unintentionally homeless and in priority need are given the protection they need.Ministers hope that the proposals will develop an integrated policy on homelessness and lettings within local authorities.

This bill was abandoned at the end of the 1997-2001 Parliament

Under measures contained in the bill will be a strengthening of the duty owed to applicants who are unintentionally homeless and in priority need and ensure that all are provided with suitable accommodation by the housing authority until a settled housing solution becomes available.

Detailed proposals include measures to ensure that everybody accepted by local housing authorities as unintentionally homeless in priority need must be provided with suitable accommodation until they obtain a settled housing solution; allow authorities greater flexibility to assist homeless households who do not have priority need; require authorities to take a more strategic, multi-agency approach to the prevention of homelessness and the rehousing of homeless households; and facilitate authorities to give more choice to homeless people and others in housing need when they allocate social tenancies.

House of Commons

First reading: December 12 2000

Second reading: January 8 2001

Standing Committee

• 1st sitting: January 16 2001 (am)
• 2nd sitting: January 16 2001 (pm)
• 3rd sitting: 18 January 2001 (am)
• 4th sitting: 18 January 2001 (pm)
• 5th sitting: January 23 2001 (am)
• 6th sitting: January 23 2001 (pm)
• 7th sitting: January 25 2001 (am)
• 8th sitting: January 25 2001 (pm)
• 9th sitting: January 30 2001 (am)
• 10th sitting: January 30 2001 (pm)
• 11th sitting: February 1 2001 (am)
• 12th sitting: February 1 2001 (pm)
• The bill as amended in committee

Remaining stages: February 7 2001

House of Lords

First reading: February 9 2001

Second reading: March 28 2001

Committee: no date