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Home Information Packs

 

As I am sure you are aware it is now against the law to market a residential property without a Home Information Pack.

This applies to all properties regardless of size, value or location (England or Wales).

IT IS THE SELLER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ORDERED A PACK BEFORE OFFERING A PROPERTY FOR SALE.

LANDLORDS SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT AS OF 1ST OCTOBER 2008 ALL RENTED PROPERTIES NEED AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE (EPC).

 

Sellers' frequently asked questions

 

When do I have to provide a HIP?

 Properties marketed for sale from 14 December 2007 in England and Wales will need a Home Information Pack (HIP). The Pack includes an Energy Performance Certificate, containing advice on how to cut carbon emissions and fuel bills.

Currently, any property that was already on the market on the relevant commencement date (i.e. 1 August 2007 for sales of homes with four or more bedrooms; 10 September 2007 for those with three or more bedrooms and 14 December for all properties) does not need to have a HIP.

 What goes in a HIP? 

• Home Information Pack Index
• Energy Performance Certificate
• Sale statement
• Standard searches
• Evidence of title
• Additional hold information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate.
• A HIP for a newly built home must have a certificate (or interim certificate) showing the rating that the home has received in respect of the Code for Sustainable Homes or a nil-rated certificate showing that the home has only been designed to meet current Building Regulations.

However, up until 1 January 2009 it is possible to market a property without all of the compulsory documents.

A HIP includes documents that are required when homes are bought and sold. Some documents are mandatory and others optional. 

Documents that are optional include:

• A Home Condition Report
• Additional Leasehold Information
• Guarantees and Warranties
• Other Searches Relevant to the Particular Area

The Mandatory Documents Are As Follows:

• An index (i.e. a list of the contents of the HIP)
• A sale statement (summarising the terms of sale)
• Evidence of title
• Standard searches (i.e. local authority enquiries and a drainage and   water search)
• An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• hold information (where appropriate)
• A copy of the lease (where appropriate)

Are HIPs required across the UK?

No - only in England and Wales

 I'm selling my house privately - do I need a HIP? 

If you are marketing your property, even if it's just by putting a 'for sale' sign in the window, you need a Pack. Sales where no marketing takes place (e.g. to a member of the family) won't need a Pack.
The seller is responsible for the cost of a Home Information Pack. The cost of the Pack is down to the market, but sellers will often be able to defer costs until late in the sale.
If your house has not been taken off the market i.e. continuous marketing has occurred, then no, you will not need to commission a HIP. If however, there was a break in marketing you will need to supply a HIP.

My house has been on the market before HIPs came in. If I change Estate Agents now, do I have to get a HIP?

If your house has not been taken off the market i.e. continuous marketing has occurred, then no, you will not need to commission a HIP. If however, there was a break in marketing you will need to supply a HIP.

 Who pays for the Pack? 

The seller is responsible for the cost of a Home Information Pack. The cost of the Pack is down to the market, but sellers will often be able to defer costs until late in the sale.

Will Someone Have To Visit My Home?

Yes, a Domestic Energy Assessor  will visit your home to carry out the report for the Energy Performance Certificate. This should take no more than an hour. He will assess things such as whether you are using energy efficient light bulbs, whether your home has cavity wall insulation, loft insulation; whether your radiators have thermostatic radiator valves and what type of boiler you have.  See Energy Performance Certificate below.

 Energy Performance Certificate

 Energy Performance Certificates tell you how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes - which should have the lowest fuel bills - are in band A. The Certificate also tells you, on a scale of A-G, about the impact the home has on the environment. Better-rated homes should have less impact through carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The average property in the UK is in bands D-E for both ratings. The Certificate includes recommendations on ways to improve the home's energy efficiency to save you money and help the environment. Most sellers of newly built homes will have to provide a predicted assessment of the energy efficiency of the property, but a full Energy Performance Certificate should be provided to the buyer when the home is completed.

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