After the recent postponement of home information packs (HIPs), some small businesses have said they would like reclaim money spent on the packs, it has emerged.

Michael Lawson, the chief executive of a small company created to produce Hips and their required energy performance certificates, told the Independent that he and others could stand to lose millions of pounds from the delay.

He remarked that he and other small business owners question whether Hips will become a reality at all, saying: "Our savings are gone and we are terrified about the prospect of Gordon Brown and his new team not committing to home information packs."

Others who invested money in training to become surveyors could also stand to lose out, the publication reports, because the initial phasing-in of Hips will only provide for a small fraction of the business which was previously expected.

Hips, which were originally planned to be obligatory for all houses on the market in England and Wales from June 1st, are now delayed until August 1st.