ServicesHome Information Packs
What is a Home Information Pack (HIP)?
Home Information Packs will be required for any property with four bedrooms or more, being marketed on or after 1st August 2007 (followed by a phased implementation for smaller properties). The packs will contain a range of information about the property for sale: an Energy Performance Certificate; sale statement; standard searches and evidence of title.
Whose responsibility is it to get a HIP?
The responsibility for acquiring a HIP rests with the person responsible for marketing the property, usually, the estate agent, developer or auctioneer, or indeed the seller themselves if the property is being sold privately. If you are putting your property on the market on or after the 1st August 2007 you will need to commission a pack before your property can be marketed.
Where can I get one?
Typically consumers will acquire a pack though their estate agent – although they are not obliged to do so. Consumers can opt to source their own pack provider or even put the pack together themselves.
How will HIPs impact buyers?
As a buyer you can ask to see a copy of the HIP for any property you are considering buying – new or secondhand. The person marketing the property – most likely the estate agent or the developer will have a copy of the HIP and you should ask them if you want to see it.
The aim of the pack is to bring relevant information about a given property to the front of the process, allowing buyers to make a more informed decision before opting to put in an offer and therefore enabling a faster and more cost effective transaction from the offset.
How will HIPs impact on new home buyers?
The responsibility for acquiring a HIP will lay with the developer or whoever is marketing the property. If you are buying a property that is already complete you will be presented with a pack in the same way that you would be for any secondhand property purchase.
If you are buying off-plan then instead of an Energy Performance Certificate (which is completed for existing properties) a predicted energy assessment will be included in the pack. This will replace the EPC and will essentially aim to provide the same information with respect to the properties energy efficiency.