The Queen’s Speech

The Queen’s Speech – written by Tony Blair – contained a ragbag of draft laws.

Some welcome measures for better child protection and tackling domestic violence. Yet too many ill-considered ideas – like top-up fees for university and undemocratic reform of the House of Lords.

Much of my time in Parliament’s new session will involve the Housing Bill. This contains new regulations – for improving standards in parts of the private rented sector and for selling homes, the so-called “Sellers’ Packs”.

I will robustly oppose this plan to intervene in the home-buying market.

Sellers’ Packs are supposed to speed up the process of selling your home. Yet the reverse may happen.

The idea is that, before an estate agent markets your home, you must compile a pack of documents including a survey, search and draft contract. A buyer can examine these before making an offer.

Yet Ministers would make it illegal to market your home without such a Sellers’ Pack.

So, if you saw a house you liked and wanted to put your own home up for sale immediately, you couldn’t. You’d first have to wait several weeks and spend out £600 or more to get a Sellers’ Pack.

Unnecessary surveys will be done. Fewer homes sold. Costs up.

Already electronic conveyancing is making it quicker to sell a home. Over 1.2 million homes are sold every year. So why is the Government interfering?