No-one should
be expected
to make the
biggest purchase
decision of
their life without
having accurate
and comprehensive
information
from the outset.
A home information
pack (HIP) provides
key selling
information
about a house,
up front and
in a standard
format, enabling
buyers to make
an informed
decision before
they put in
an offer.
Prior to Home
Information
Packs; the information
buyers really
needed was only
available after
an offer had
been accepted,
which often
caused sales
to be renegotiated
or collapse
entirely, for
example if a
survey comes
back showing
additional work
may be required
to the property.
As part of its
plans to improve
the homebuying
process, the
government has
through the
Housing Act
2004 introduced
HIPs. As of
December 2007
all properties
being put on
the market in
England and
Wales are required
to be accompanied
with a HIP.
The HIPs has
to be compiled
by a property
seller.
The pack is
composed of
the following
items:
• Sales
Statement /
Terms of Sale
• Energy
Performance
Certificate
(EPC)
• Evidence
of title
• Legal
searches
• Warranties
and guarantees
• Planning
consents
For leasehold
properties the
pack also contains:
• Copy
of the lease
• Recent
service charge
accounts and
receipts
• Buildings
insurance policy
details
• Landlord/management
company regulations
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