Jane Pridgeon, Chair of Halifax Estate Agency, said: "Estate agents are likely to be in the forefront of explaining the need for and benefits of the packs to their prospective sellers. We are getting ready for what will be the biggest change for the estate agency industry in a generation."

Several of the largest mortgage lenders, including Halifax, Skipton and Nationwide, are also in approval of the governments announcement on HIPs. "We support any move to improve the consumers experience and to speed up the house buying process," said Philip Williamson, Chief Executive of Nationwide.

However Shadow secretary for local government and communities, Caroline Spelman, attacked the packs, saying they "will do nothing to stop gazumping or speed up buying a house".

"Labours sellers packs will simply put up the cost of selling a home, create more red tape and ultimately undermine a fragile housing market," she said