What is a Home Information Pack?

A Home information Pack (HIP) is a set of documents that are now required when houses are bought and sold. These must include:

• An Index (i.e. a list of the contents of the pack)
• A Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
• An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• A Sale Statement (summarising the terms of sale)
• Evidence of Title (who owns the property and any restrictions on use)
• Standard Searches (e.g. local authority enquiries and a drainage & water search)
• The Lease (if applicable)

The HIP documents provide important information about a property such as boundary ownership, planning permissions and its energy efficiency. With the exception of the EPC these documents would previously have been obtained at a much later stage but the HIP ensures this information is available as soon as the house is marketed, which is intended to speed up and simplify the completion of a house sale and avoid any last minute offer withdrawals or delays.

What other documents can be included?

There are several other documents and reports that you can choose to be included as additional or ‘Authorised’ documents, such as: a Home Condition Report (HCR – a new form of survey), guarantees and warranties (i.e. new roof guarantee, NHBC certificate), other searches relevant to the particular area (i.e. environmental, flood), a Home Use Form and a Home Contents Form (what is included in the sale).

Some of these documents can be supplied by yourself, some are free and others we can supply at an additional cost. They can provide much more in-depth information about your property which will reassure buyers and could give your property the advantage.

Do all residential properties need a HIP?

The majority of homes being sold on the open market do now require a HIP. There are a few exceptions for properties with mixed commercial use, homes being sold with a sitting tenant or homes with restricted use or occupancy. We can advise you on this, please give us a call.

What will it cost and when do I pay for the HIP?

We have a simple range of fees depending on whether your property is freehold or leasehold and whether it is registered at the Land Registry. We have a variety of payment options including debit/credit card or an option to defer payment until the house is sold. Your agent will be able to provide you with more information or you can contact us on the number below.

How do I order my HIP and how long will it take?

You can order your HIP either by calling us directly, or through your Estate Agent or Solicitor. We aim to complete all HIPs within 7 working days.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

The EPC is part of the Government’s undertaking to help reduce carbon emissions. The report measures how efficiently a home is heated and how well it retains that heat, rating its energy efficiency and carbon emissions from A to G on a graph – like those used to rate fridges. It also makes useful recommendations for cost-effective improvements to cut your fuel bills.

The EPC can only be prepared by qualified Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA) or Home Inspectors (HI) who are members of Government approved Accreditation and Certification Schemes. Our assessors are local property professionals who will contact you directly to arrange a convenient daytime appointment to visit your home and conduct the assessment. The appointment can take up to an hour depending on the property.

What is the Property Information Questionnaire?

The Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) consists of a series of questions regarding the property that need to be answered by the vendor. The completed form needs to be returned to us as soon as possible for inclusion in the HIP.

When can my Estate Agent start to market my property?

From the 6th April 2009, your Estate Agent must have confirmation that the HIP, with the exception of the Searches, is complete BEFORE he can start marketing a property. Until this confirmation is received, the Estate Agent is not legally allowed to erect sale boards, publish details of the property on a website or in a newspaper or arrange viewings.

Our systems enable us to complete the relevant parts of the Pack within 48 hours, subject to you being able to return the PIQ to us straight away and allowing access to our Energy Assessor. As soon as we have received back all the necessary documents, we e-mail you and your Estate Agent with confirmation that the documents are in place and that marketing can begin.

(All information correct as of 6th April 2009).