NAEA managing director Mark Hayward – and conveyancers – yesterday backed moves towards providing upfront information in the home-buying process, to stop sales falling through.

But delegates and speakers at yesterday’s Conveyancing Association conference stopped short of calling for a return to full Home Information Packs.

Conveyancing Association chairman Eddie Goldsmith asked the audience what would be in a pre-contract pack, with audience members backing documents showing proof of ownership and documents, but not Land Registry searches, surveys or historical paperwork.

Jonathan Lay of Spicerhaart said the big question was “who pays for it and who sells it”.

He said: “Pre-packs would get information out earlier and speed up the process. It is quite often about just getting the buyer and vendor off the ground.”

Victoria Mortimer of Shulmans said the law firm had been trialling providing upfront information on sales with an estate agent, who would tell a vendor the documents they need to provide, which had sped up transactions.

David Bridge, of BPL Solicitors, said it was important not to look back on HIPs with too much nostalgia, adding: “Lawyers would still need to get sent the HIPs from different providers.

“It is important to have the right and relevant information upfront such as the length of a lease, but a copy of a 1983 conveyance would be completely pointless.

“We should look at what information would be easy, free and cheap to provide so there are fewer surprises.”

Hayward told the conference: “Agents are concerned about abortive sales. My members only get paid at completion, unless they are online-only.

“It’s just getting them to commit to a system.”