"From 14th December 2007 all home owners in England and Wales will need to prepare a Home Information Pack before putting their house on the market"

• The Home Information Pack contains important information that buyers and sellers need to know.

• Home Information Packs including Energy Performance Certificates have been implemented on a phased basis which started on 1 August 2007.

• All properties marketed for sale from 14 December 2007 in England and Wales will need a Home Information Pack.

• For sellers, providing a Pack up front should reduce the likelihood of any nasty surprises in the selling process that could delay the sale, as buyers will be able to make more informed decisions about purchasing their home.

• For buyers, the Pack provides essential information about properties they are considering buying, free of charge.

What does a HIP Pack contain?

* Denotes compulsory documents - must be included in a Home Information Pack.

*Home Information Pack Index

*Energy Performance Certificate

* Sale Statement

*Standard Searches

*Evidence of Title

The Lease (Where appropriate)

         
COMPULSORY DOCUMENTS

The following compulsory documents must be included in a Home Information Pack.

• Home Information Pack Index

  The compulsory documents include a Home Information Pack Index, listing the documents contained in the Pack.

  The Index provides a checklist for sellers, buyers, estate agents and enforcement authorities.

  Where a document that must be included in the Pack is unavailable, the Index must say so, give the reason it is missing, and indicate what steps are being taken to obtain it.

  Where documents are added to or removed from the Pack at a later stage, the Index should be revised accordingly.

  Back to top

• Energy Performance Certificate

  Energy Performance Certificates tell you how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes - which should have the lowest fuel bills - are in band A.

  The Certificate also tells you, on a scale of A-G, about the impact the home has on the environment. Better-rated homes should have less impact through carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

  The average property in the UK is in bands D-E for both ratings. The Certificate includes recommendations on ways to improve the home's energy efficiency to save you money and help the environment.

  Most sellers of newly built homes will have to provide a predicted assessment of the energy efficiency of the property, but a full Energy Performance Certificate should be provided to the buyer when the home is completed.

  Back to top

• Sale Statement

  The sale statement should provide some basic information about the property, including:

  • The address of the property being sold

  • Whether the property is freehold, leasehold or commonhold

  • Whether the property is registered or unregistered

  • Whether or not the property is being sold with vacant possession

  
  Back to top

• Standard searches

  The Home Information Pack must include:

  • The local land charges register relating to the property being sold. Once a search is completed, which can be carried out by a personal search company or a local authority, you will receive an official search certificate. 
  • Other records held by the local authority on matters of interest to buyers, such as planning decisions and road building proposals. These are referred to as local enquiries in the Home Information Pack regulations. A local authority or a personal search company can be used.
  • The provision of drainage and water services to the property. The local water company or a personal search company can be used (however, the search must comply with the HIP Regulations).

  Back to top

• Evidence of Title

  These documents prove that the seller owns the property and therefore has the right to sell it. Where the property being sold is registered, certain documents that are available on request from the Land Registry must be included in the Pack. These provide an up-to-date official record of who owns the land, and consist of:

  • Official copies of the individual register (made up of a property register, proprietorship register and, typically, a charges register)
  • An official copy of the title plan

  In the case of the sale of a commonhold interest, official copies of the register and title plan should be produced for both the unit and common parts. The Land Registry has details of additional requirements for sales of commonhold properties.

  For sales of unregistered land, the Pack must include copies of a certificate of an official search of the index map (obtained from the Land Registry), and those documents that the seller intends to rely on to provide evidence of title to the property, and thus the right to sell it.

  Back to top

• Leasehold properties (Where appropriate)

  Most of the documents that must be included in the Home Information Pack are applicable to all transactions, but some are needed only for leasehold sales.

  Of the required leasehold documents a copy of the lease is compulsory. However, sellers should include other leasehold documents whenever available and the following are authorised for inclusion in Home Information Packs:

  • Any regulations or rules that apply to the property that aren't mentioned in the lease and any proposed amendments to same

  • Statements or summaries of service charges covering the previous 36 months

  • Where appropriate, the most recent requests for payment of service charges, ground rent, insurance against damage for the building in which the property is situated, and insurance in respect of personal injury caused by or within the building during the 12-month period before marketing began

  • The name and address of the current or proposed lessor, and details of any managing agent that has been appointed or proposed by the lessor to manage the property

  • A summary of any works being undertaken or proposed that will affect the property or the building in which it's situated.

  
  Back to top