Legal experts and property professionals have attacked the Government for failing to take their concerns about the introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPs) seriously enough.

A group including the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) and the Law Society reported that ministers had refused to see them to discuss the controversial plan and to listen to their serious concerns about the “seriously flawed” product.

“In their current format, HIPs will prove to be ineffective and vastly impractical,” said Charles Smailes, president of the National Association of Estate Agents. “I once again urge the Government to work with the stakeholders and take note of our very real concerns.”

An Essex-based estate agent who asked not to be named also said that the HIPs proposal was “wrong” and would lead to far more problems than it would solve.

The Government believes that HIPs will speed up the property sales process and a pro-HIPs group urged it to press on with the measure despite the objections.

“Calls from those who wish to see delays should be ignored by ministers, who should feel confident in delivering this consumer and environmental reform on 1st June,” said Mike Ockenden, director-general of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers.