The HIP is made up of
required (compulsory) and authorised (optional) items.
Compulsory
documents
The following documents must be included in your HIP:
Freehold properties
- Home Information Pack Index
- the new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ), from 6 April 2009
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA)
- sustainability information (required for newly built homes)
- sale statement
- evidence of title
- standard searches (local authority and drainage and water)
Leasehold properties
- all the compulsory documents above
- a copy of the lease
For more detail on these documents follow the links below.
Optional documents
Other documents can be included within your HIP, but these are optional. If they are included,
it could help to speed up the sale and ensure that the process goes more smoothly. These include:
- Home Condition Report
- legal summary
- home use/contents form
- other documents like specialist searches (for example, the seller may choose to include a mining
search in a mining area)
For more information follow the link below.
Buyers
From 6 April 2009, the HIP must be available
on the first day a property is marketed for sale. If you are buying a property, just ask whoever is advertising it for sale
for a copy of the Home Information Pack. This is usually an estate agent, but could be another business or individual.
They
must give you a copy of the pack free of charge. However, they may make a reasonable charge to cover the costs of copying
and posting it.
For a step by step guide to HIPs, read 'HIPs: a buyer's guide'.
Sellers
From 6 April 2009, the 'responsible
person' (in most cases, the estate agent) will not be allowed to market your property unless the HIP is available. You'll
need to make arrangements to have a HIP compiled (including paying for it) along with other preparations for selling your
home. However, if there's a delay in getting certain documents, like the local searches, these can be added after your
house is put on the market.
Always make sure that your HIP provider is signed up
to a code of practice, like the HIP Code or IPSA.
Who
pays for the HIP?
The seller is responsible for the cost of a HIP. The cost can vary so make sure you shop around. Some providers may
offer HIPs that you can pay for at a later date but you should always check the terms and conditions of your contract.
For
a more detailed guide, read 'HIPs: a seller's guide' and 'HIPs: more information for sellers'.
What will a pack look like?
There isn't a standard
'look' for a Home Information Pack. However, it must include all of the compulsory ('required') items. Certain
important documents must be no more than three months old when the property was first marketed for sale.
