The Conservative Party has again criticised home information packs (Hips) and reiterated its desire to scrap them, while warning investors and businesses not to enter this sector. Earlier this week, leading provider HIP Facilities Group and its subsidiary HIP Payment Services announced that they would not be taking any new business after August due to the housing market slowdown, as well as to uncertainty over the political future. Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps described this development as a blow to Hips' credibility and claimed that their introduction had helped to undermine the property market in the first place by raising the cost of transactions and putting off sellers. He advised that, given the Conservatives' vow to scrap this piece of 'red tape' if they come into power, sensible investors should consider whether it is worth putting money into this sector, while Hip providers would also do well to diversify into other areas.