News & Views

Home Information Packs

In November 2004 the Government introduced legislation designed to make house buying and selling much easier. Home Information Packs are to be introduced throughout and for certain properties from August 2007. Full details are yet to be released.

The Home Information Packs are intended to make the selling and buying process much quicker and avoid those situations where the sale falls through at the last moment because of new information which is received just before exchange of contracts. There should be much less time between finding a buyer and completing the sale. Hopefully this will mean less stress and less wasted costs.

A Home Information Pack (HIP) is a collection of information about a property. It must be prepared on behalf of a seller before the property is marketed, and then passed on to the buyer. The HIP will only be required for residential properties and it will be required whether or not an estate agent is used in the sale. However, some sales should be exempt, e.g. transfers of property between family members and friends; sales to sitting tenants; right to buy sales and certain types of lease. Your solicitor will be able to advise you when the time comes.

Most of the information to be put in the pack is the kind of information we ask you to provide when you instruct us on a sale. The only difference is that you will need to provide it to us before the property goes on the market.

As well as the usual property information forms, the packs will contain the following:

1. Evidence of title
2. Terms of sale
3. Energy Performance Certificates
4. Local Authority Search. This Search is at the moment carried out by the buyer. It will in future be carried out on behalf of the seller and put in the HIP. Any other searches which will be required are still being discussed, but they will also depend on the area in which you live.
5. Guarantees relating to the property
6. Planning and Building Regulation consents

There are still some matters which the Government need to iron out and we will regularly update our website as and when new information is received. If you need any help or advice please telephone or email us.

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