Home Information Packs

The pack is a set of documents about the property: an Energy Performance Certificate, Property Information Questionnaire, local authority searches, title documents, guarantees, etc. HIPs became mandatory for homes with four or more bedrooms on 1st August 2007 and was phased out to the rest of the market at the end of 2007.

What's in a Home Information Pack (HIP)

Compulsory items:

• Home Information Pack Index
• Property Information Questionnaire
• Energy Performance Certificate
• Sale Statement
• Standard Searches
• Evidence of title
• Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate

Optional items:

• Home Condition Report
• Legal summary
• Home use/contents forms
• Other documents

Do You Need a Pack?

You do not need a Home Information Pack for:

• Properties where there is no marketing (e.g. sale to 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.

Will I be fined for NOT producing a HIP pack?

Failure to provide a Home Information Pack, or supplying an incomplete pack carries a fine of £200. Enforcement is being carried out by local authority Trading Standards Departments.

 

On July 31, 2007 the Office of Fair Trading advised estate agents on their obligations. From August 1, 2007 estate agents in England and Wales that fail to comply with the new Home Information Packs regulations could result in a ban from estate agency work.