The government has announced its controversial Home Information Pack (Hip) scheme will be extended to all properties by December 14th.

Housing minister Yvette Cooper dismissed claims from the industry and shadow backbenchers that the move could bring the housing market "grinding to a halt".

Estate agency groups had raised concerns about the amount of time it will take to issue Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) - a key component of the packs - but Ms Cooper insisted that the country''s 5,800 accredited assessors are ready for the task.

Since the expansion of the scheme to cover three bedroom properties in September, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has claimed that two thirds of its members have recorded a fall in the number of three-bedroom-plus properties coming on the market.

"With prospective buyers and sellers taking a wait-and-see approach to moving, activity in the housing market is grinding to a halt," spokesman Jeremy Leaf warned.

In addition to EPCs, the packs include important documents about such as title deeds and leasehold details and are intended to speed up the homebuying process.