HIPS

New Legislation

From 10 September 2007, anyone marketing a property with 3 or more bedrooms, is legally required to have a Home Information Pack (HIP).

The person responsible for marketing a property must have commissioned a Home Information Pack by the time the property is on the market. As soon as you have received the Energy Performance Certificate (a compulsory part of the Pack), you must produce a Pack * and provide potential buyers with a copy of the Pack, or any document from it on request. In most cases, this period is 14 days after the date of the request.

Note: The ability to market without a Pack is a temporary arrangement and will only last until 31 December 2007.

If you sell the home before you receive the Home Information Pack, there is no longer any need to provide a Pack. However, you will still have a legal duty to provide the Energy Performance Certificate, which must be given to the buyer at exchange of contracts, or as soon as it is available

* You must not charge for the Pack itself, but you may make a reasonable charge for copying and posting a Home Information Pack.

Your Safety
Domestic Energy Assessors or Home Inspectors should always make an appointment. Do not allow unexpected cold callers into your home to carry out Energy Performance Certificates or Home Condition Reports.

Lancs Property are working with a number of local HIP providers to offer you competitively priced, quick-and-easy HIPS. Simply email us on info@lancsproperty.co.uk for a no obligation quote, detailing the asking price and number of bedrooms in your property.

What does a Standard Pack contain?

Compulsory documents (’Required’) The following compulsory documents must be included in a Home Information Pack:

• Home Information Pack Index
• Energy Performance Certificate (will rate the energy efficiency of your home, from A to G - similar to consumer friendly ratings for fridges etc)
• Sale statement
• Standard searches (Local Authority & Drainage & Water searches)
• Evidence of title
• Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate.

Optional documents (’Authorised’)

• Home Condition Report
• Legal summary
• Home use/contents forms
• Other documents

Source: www.homeinformationpack.gov.uk

How long does a Pack last for?

While the property is on the market, there is no need to update the Home Information Pack (ultimately, the market decides whether the documents remain acceptable and up to date). If the sale of your property stops and then starts again, you would normally be required to assemble a new Pack and to update those documents which are now out of date according to the requirements of the Home Information Pack Regulations. However, the seller can carry on using the same Pack without the need to update any of the documents in the following circumstances:

• Where marketing stopped because the seller accepted an offer and wants to restart marketing because the sale has fallen through, provided that remarketing starts within one year of the date when marketing first began or, if later, within 28 days of the sale falling through.
• Where marketing has stopped for any other reason, the seller may remarket the property with the same Pack provided that remarketing starts within one year of the date when marketing first began.

Do I need a Pack?
You do not need a Home Information Pack for:

• Properties where there is no marketing (e.g. sale to member of your family)
• Non-residential properties
• Seasonal and holiday accommodation
• Mixed sales (e.g. shop with flat)
• Right to buy and similar sales
• Sales of portfolios of properties
• Properties not being sold with completely vacant possession
• Unsafe properties and properties to be demolished
• Properties already on the market when the duty to have a Pack arises (eg. 10 September for sales of homes of 3 bedrooms and above)
• New homes built under Part L of the Building Regulations 2006 (these will be brought in by a separate commencement order in due course)

If you need a Home Information Pack why not let us help. Lancs Property have chosen to work with a number of carefully selected HIP providers who can offer Lancs Property customers a cost effective and efficient HIP service. Simply email us on info@lancsproperty.co.uk for a no obligation quote, detailing the asking price and number of bedrooms in your property.