After weeks of speculation, claims and counter-claims, Home information packs (Hips) come into force today (August 1st) with advocates still trying to make clear the case in favour of the scheme.

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) has said that the launch of the packs should be welcomed by all parties, a message backed up by housing minister Yvette Cooper.

Ms Cooper admitted to BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight that the introduction of Hips initially only for properties with four or more bedrooms meant this was a "transitional" period, but said plans were in place to extend the scheme in the not too distant future.

But the level of controversy surrounding the packs was such that criticism was unlikely to have simply faded away come August, and that has certainly proved to be the case.

Both the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and Conservative shadow housing minister Grant Shapps have said that regulating the scheme would be extremely difficult, while the Green Party has criticised the government for not making Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) mandatory for all homes from today's date.