None of the companies planning to supply home information packs (HIP) are able to produce them in large quantities, industry experts warned at last week’s Property Information Systems Common Exchange Standard (PISCES) Home Information Pack Forum.

Stephen McCluskey, managing director of property software developer Vebra Solutions, said the HIP suppliers he was dealing with were making good progress on pack development. However, he voiced concerns none of them were able to produce HIPs in high volumes.

McCluskey said: “Although most of the companies we have spoken to have been able to show us a HIP, developing the ability to produce them in high numbers will be a real challenge over the next year.”

McCluskey added: “Not a single HIP provider can commit to how much volume and service they can give and it would be folly for the Government to commit to an introduction date until we have a definite service commitment.”

The Government is yet to confirm a date for the introduction of HIPs, but Cathy Cant, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, who also attended the forum, said they were still on track to be launched in 2007.

Nigel Payne, managing director of The Mortgage Business, said any delivery problems would be further exacerbated by a lack of home inspectors.

Payne added: “The home condition report will be the responsibility of the seller. But in Denmark where they already have a HIP system, around 50% of buyers commission their own HIPs. The Government has not accounted for this and it will take time for market forces to meet this demand.”