All conveyancing members of the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (Ahipp) will accept Hips from any organisation that complies with relevant regulations, the group has announced.

Ahipp, which also represents a number of estate agents, said that as long as providers obeyed the rules set down in the Hip Code, it did not matter if the packs were produced by a local authority or a private company.

Mike Ockenden, director general of Ahipp, said: "Many local authorities have improved their service levels and reduced their costs to consumers and this should be recognised and applauded."

Last month a number of banks, such as HSBC, said they would not accept Hips that included searches conducted by local authorities.

A spokesman for the bank said: "If someone wants to buy a house from someone who has a Hip containing a personal local search, we would tell their solicitor we would not lend to them unless they commissioned their own search."

Mr Ockenden advised consumers who are told that a Hip compliant pack would not be accepted by their lender "should consider using a firm that will, thus avoiding extra costs and delays in the process".