Home Information Packs (H.I.P.s)

When do I have to provide a H.I.P.?
If you are marketing a property which falls within the scope of the scheme (initially those with 4 or more bedrooms) during the temporary period, which runs from 1 August until the 31 December, a H.I.P. must be commissioned before marketing commences. During this period the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) must be provided before contracts are exchanged. There is no set time limit on when the rest of the H.I.P. must be provided.

If you are marketing a property which falls within the scope of the scheme from 1 January 2008 onwards, the H.I.P. including the EPC must be available to anyone interested in the property from the time it is first placed on the market.

How is a 4 bedroom property defined?
A 4 bedroom property is defined as any property being marketed as having 4 bedrooms.

What do I do if my house was on the market before the 1 August?
Properties that are genuinely on the market before the commencement date (i.e. I August for sales of homes with four or more bedrooms) will not need a Pack. This exemption will apply for as long as marketing continues but the Government may appoint a date at which all properties on the market will be subject to the H.I.P. duties, regardless of when they were first marketed.

What goes in a H.I.P.?
The following compulsory documents must be included in a Home Information Pack:

* Home Information Pack Index; * Energy Performance Certificate; * Sale statement; * Standard searches; * Evidence of title; * Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate.

You can also include other documents such as a Home Condition Report, an environmental or flood risk search and other information that would be of interest to a potential buyer as defined in the regulations.

Do I need a Home Information Pack to sell my house privately?
If you are marketing your property, by whatever method, you need a Pack. Sales where no marketing takes place (e.g. to a member of the family) won't need a Pack.

How do I get one?
Everyone selling via MySaleAgreed is given access to a cost effective, easy to obtain H.I.P. from a leading provider. There's an easy process to follow when you list your home.

UPDATE: On 17 August, the next phase of the roll-out of Home Information Packs was anounced. This means that homes with 3 or more bedrooms marketed for sale from 10 September will require a HIP.