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What is a HIP?
A HIP is a package of information which must be assembled by a vendor [or an estate agent] prior to marketing a residential property.
When does a HIP need to be produced?
Generally, every residential property which is marketed for sale requires a Home Information Pack (HIP). There are exceptions and details of these can be found here. Don't forget that as from the 1st October, 2008 even if one of these exceptions apply the vendor will still need an Energy Performance Certificate.
What goes into a HIP?
A HIP includes documents that are required when homes are bought and sold. Some documents are mandatory and others optional.
The mandatory documents are:
- index (i.e. a list of the contents of the HIP);
- sale statement (summarising the terms of sale);
- evidence of title;
- standard searches (i.e. local authority enquiries and a drainage and water search);
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC);
- commonhold information (where appropriate);
- copy of the lease (where appropriate);
- certificate (or interim certificate) showing the Code for Sustainable Homes rating or a nil-rated certificate (new builds only).
Optional documents include:
- Home Condition Report (HCR);
- additional leasehold information;
- guarantees and warranties;
- other searches relevant to the particular area.
What would happen if a property is marketed without a HIP?
Local Trading Standards Officers will police the legislation and vendors who do not obtain a HIP could be fined £200. Once the fine is imposed the Vendor must still obtain the HIP or risk further £200 fines. For further details look here.
How long will the HIP remain valid for?
At least 12 months, and longer if the property remains on the market and is not taken off for longer than 28 days. This is the case even though the search and other documents within the HIP may have become out of date.
When does the HIP need to be shown?
You should provide a copy of your HIP to every potential buyer if they want it. You can refuse to provide a HIP to the buyer if you believe that:
- they could not afford the property, eg people who don't have an 'in principle' mortgage
- they are not really interested in buying the property, eg a journalist posing as a buyer to get a HIP of a celebrity's home
- they are not a person who you would wish to sell the property to (but this doesn't mean you can unlawfully discriminate against someone)
How to I obtain a HIP?
Easylawyers have teamed up with Hips Homes Limited to provide our clients an affordable cost-effective reliable HIP service. It is regulated by the Law Society and as opinions polls show that the public most trust a solicitor to prepare and interpret a HIP. Therefore, we hope that easylawyers is going to be your number one choice in the UK property market for an affordable and compliant HIP.
Our HIPS start from a price of £199 plus VAT means that HIP Lawyers are (probably) the cheapest provider of HIP's in the United Kingdom and proud of it. The HIPs are professionally prepared and shall be acceptable to the buyers lawyers. All HIPs are prepared to a standard you would expect from professional HIP provider.
A HIP providers subscribes to the HIP Code. This Code is here to provide you with redress if there is a problem with the HIP. Further details can be found here.
Avoid any supplier of HIPs which do not subscribe to this Code.
Hips Homes Limited is a pack provider which belongs to the Code and which is backed and run by solicitors.
Residential Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
What is an EPC?
The Energy Performance Certificate is similar to the certificates found on many domestic appliances.
A Certificate for a building gives the building an asset rating based on its energy efficiency. Data is collected by the domestic energy assessor such as floor area, construction, insulation, heating and lighting and inputted into a management software programme. Certain assumptions are made on how the home is used by the occupiers.
The EPC produced will give the building a rating from A to G. An A rating shows it's very efficient, meaning lower fuel bills, while G is inefficient, meaning higher fuel bills. The Certificate will also show the building's environmental impact by indicating its carbon-dioxide emissions.
The EPC will also show recommendations as to how the property could be made more energy and cost efficient. The Potential ratings included within the Energy Survey indicate the effects of each recommendation.
What is a DEA?
Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) is the name given to individuals who can produce EPCs for existing dwellings, other than Home Inspectors.
Who can produce EPCs for a HIP?
EPCs can only be produced by Home Inspectors and DEAs. Home Inspectors will also be able to produce Home Condition Reports, which are now a voluntary part of the HIP.
Commercial Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
What is legally required?
Under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), from July 1st 2008 all commercial property in the UK, over 2500 sq metres in size will have to have an Energy Performance Certificate (Commercial EPC) upon construction, or prior to sale or lease of the property. On 1st October 2008, this was extended to cover any property over 50 sq metres.
The certificate is similar to those produced for domestic dwellings and assess the energy efficiency of a building. The commercial EPC provides advice on how to make cost effective improvements to the building to make it more energy efficient.
Commercial Energy Performance Certificates are required upon construction, sale or lease for all non-dwellings, covering everything from small retail units to offices, industrial units and large scale commercial premises such as airports and public buildings.
Public buildings also require Display Energy Certificates.
There are exemptions to the requirement for a commercial EPC. These include:
- Places of worship, temporary buildings (less than two years use);
- low energy demand buildings;
- stand alone buildings less than 50 sq. metres.
Responsibility for enforcement in newly built properties will fall to Building Control, whilst Trading Standards departments will enforce certification of existing buildings.
How can we help?
We have good and solid links with some of the largest providers of commercial EPCs in the Country and are able to provide quotes on all jobs within 24 hours if not sooner.
We can provide competitively priced Commercial Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for businesses that are being sold or leased in and around commercial.
If you require a prompt quote, please contact us on 0845 108 5614.
Why choose easylawyers?
What makes us different from other facilitators is that we can offer a tailor-made solution for your business as well as offering complete or partial HIPs at competitive prices. We believe in making sure that there is always a friendly and helpful voice at the end of the phone and that no customer is left without support.
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