Home Information Packs

Home Information Packs (HIPs) were introduced to speed up the house buying/selling process and provide information to prospective buyers about a property before making an offer. They also serve to meet European laws that must be incorporated in the UK. Whether they are in fact achieving this is the cause of strong debate amongst all those who work within the property sector. We are sure that you too will have an opinion on this point. Nonetheless they are here and they are not going anywhere for the immediate future.

HIPs were introduced at three different times:

1st August 2007 – for properties with 4 bedrooms or more
10th September 2007 – for properties with 3 bedrooms or more
14th December 2007 – for all other properties
The HIPs regime will eventually be extended to include commercial property and newly built property.

HIPs must include the following documents:
Index
Energy Performance Certificate
Sale statement
Evidence of legal title
Local Search
Water & Drainage search

Depending on the location of the property, other searches may also be required e.g. coal mining search, Cheshire brine search.

The HIP may also contain other useful documents such as warranties/guarantees and property information forms.

Where the property is leasehold, the HIP should contain a copy of the Lease and may contain other leasehold information such as service charge accounts and a buildings insurance schedule.