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 Why do I need a Home Information Pack?
HIPs were introduced to bring information up-front, to increase certainty and inform buyers about a property before they incur costs. Informed choice by buyers at the start will help reduce delays later on and wasted time for sellers. From 6 April 2009 this information must be available from the first day the property is put on the market.
 
The HIP is a set of documents providing important information about the property, such as its energy efficiency, boundary ownership and approved planning permissions.
 
Approximately 30% of property sales in the UK fall through causing frustration and expense for all involved. Providing this information up front will enable potential purchasers to make a more informed decision much earlier in the process which will improve the speed and conclusion of transactions and reduce wasted costs.
 
Changes to Home Information Packs
From 6 April important changes are made to the home buying and selling process:

 

    • Introduction of the new Property Information Questionaire
    • Removal of the first day marketing exemption
    • All searches, whether produced by a Local Authority or a Search Company must be complete with no gaps in the data covered by insurance.
 

 What's in a Home Information Pack?
A Home Information Pack consists of 'Required Content' and 'Authorised Content'. All documentation must be accurately referenced in an index that has to be updated every time a document is added or changed.
 

 Below are details of the documentation that is included within each section:

 

Required Content

 

The following documents are 'Required Content' and must be included in every HIP

  • Index
  • Property Information Questionaire (PIQ)
  • Energy Performance Certificate
  • Sales Statement
  • Land Registry Title and Plan
  • Copy of the New Homes Warranty (if applicable)
  • Local Authority Searches
  • Drainage and Water Searches
  • Additional Documents for Lease hold Properties (including a copy of the Lease and Landlord details)

 Authorised Content

 

The following 'Authorised Documents' do not have to be provided in the HIP, however the regulations recommend that they are included where relevant to the property for sale

  • Home Condition Report
  • Additional Property searches relating to the sale of the property (e.g. Environmental Search, regionally appropriate searches or Flood Risk Search)
  • Information identifying the property (e.g. a map)
  • Information about the source or supply of any pack document, including additional Land Registry documents for Commonhold or Leasehold properties
  • Warranties or Guarantees including any extra insurance policies or guarantees that may be of interest to a buyer
  • Additional Land Searches that relate to other land or property in the vicinity of the property
  • Home Use Form
  • Home Contents Form

 

 When is a Home Information Pack not needed?

 You do not need a Home Information Pack for the following:

  • Properties where there is no marketing (e.g. sale to a member of your family)
  • Non-residential properties
  • Seasonal and holiday accommodation
  • Mixed sales (e.g. shop with flat)
  • Right to buy and similar sales
  • Sales of portfolios of properties
  • Properties not being sold with completely vacant possession
  • Unsafe properties and properties to be demolished
  • Properties already on the market when the duty to have a pack arises (1 August for sales of homes with 4 bedrooms or more, and 10 September for sales of homes with 3 bedrooms or more)

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For more information on Home Information Packs visit www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  HIP-HIPS-Home Information Packs

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