HIPS

Home Information Packs, (HIPS) are due to become a requirement when selling a home from 1st June 2007.

A HIP will be compiled by or on behalf of the seller, and specific documents will need to be present before marketing commences; others can be added when available. There are two types of documents, those which must be included ("required") and those which can be included ("authorised").

The Home Information Pack Regulations 2006 set out provisions on the “required” and “authorised” content of the Pack. Required documents must be included in the pack where appropriate and authorised documents may be included at the seller’s discretion.
On the 18 July 2006, the government decided that The Home Condition Report (Survey element) of the pack would not be obligatory and has implied that it will be phased in at a later date.

The required documents are

  • An index (i.e. a list of the contents of the Pack)
  • A sale statement (summarising terms of sale)
  • Evidence of title
  • Standard searches (i.e. local authority enquiries and a drainage and water search)
  • An Energy Performance Certificate
  • Where appropriate, commonhold information (including a copy of the commonhold community statement)
  • Where appropriate, leasehold information (including a copy of the lease, information
  • Where appropriate, a New Homes Warranty
  • Where appropriate, a report on a home that is not physically complete

 

The authorised documents include:

  • A Home Condition Report
  • Guarantees and warranties
  • Other searches.
  • The Regulations will be amended so that as from 1 June 2007 the Home Condition Report will be an authorised part of the Pack.

 

An authorised document means that sellers can use them to top up their Packs voluntarily to include additional material where they judge that to be of interest to prospective buyers. Although the Government has indicated it will make Home Condition Reports voluntary as from 1 June 2007, it strongly believes that these are likely to prove valuable to both sellers and buyers, and is working with the industry to ensure that there is active take up.
(Source: /www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/)