Despite the initial opposition both from within the industry and from politicians and homeowners, demand for Home Information Packs (Hips) has been strong, it has been revealed.

The news from the pack provider Simply Hip comes soon after the government confirmed that the scheme will be extended to cover three bedroom properties from September 10th.

At present, only homes with four or more bedrooms are required to provide Hips.

Ashley King, managing director of Simply Hip, said: "We anticipated a slow uptake initially - although we were surprised with how many instructions we have received. On the first day we had over 20 instructions and its been 20 to 30 a day thereafter

"We have instructions from a good percentage of our contracted agents already. There is a good percentage of agents, in my opinion, that now really realise that Hips are here and they are going to stay."

However, both the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the National Association of Estate Agents have recently expressed their reservations about the plans to extend the scheme, pointing to a lack of qualified surveyors and claiming that the home-buying process will be slowed down by the scheme.