The Home Information Pack more commonly known as a HIP or Sellers Packs, is compulsory for most homes on the market in England and Wales. From 6 April 2009, important changes will be made to HIPs. This means better information will be available from the first day a property is put on the market.
A HIP is a set of documents that provides the buyer with key information on the property and must be provided by the seller or the seller's agent. It is a legal requirement to have a HIP and you can't market your property without one. The HIP prepared by solicitor lets buyers see important information about the property at the start of the process, free of charge. This means there is less chance of buyers becoming aware of any surprises at the end of the process. The HIPs are solicitor prepared can help reduce delays and extra expense to the buyer and seller.
The HIP is made up of required (compulsory) and authorised (optional) items.
There shouldn't be any marketing or advertising material in the pack, so make sure it contains official information only.
Listed below are all the compulsory documents that need to be included.
Compulsory documents in Home Information Packs
The following documents must be included in your HIP:
Freehold properties
Home Information Pack Index
the new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ), from 6 April 2009
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA)
sustainability information (required for newly built homes)
sale statement
evidence of title
standard searches (local authority and drainage and water)
Leasehold properties
all the compulsory documents above
a copy of the lease
Optional documents in Home Information Packs
Other documents can be included within your HIP, but these are optional. If they are included, it could help to speed up the sale and ensure that the process goes more smoothly. These include:
other documents like specialist searches (for example, the seller may choose to include a mining search in a mining area)
HIPs: compulsory items
A Home Information Pack (HIP) is made up of a set of documents that are required (compulsory) and authorised (optional). The HIP must include an index, a sale statement, evidence of title, an Energy Performance Certificate, standard searches. From 6 April 2009, it also needs a Property Information Questionnaire.
Compulsory documents for a HIP
The following documents, numbered from one to seven, must be included in a HIP. A copy of the lease and commonhold documents must be included, where appropriate.
The Index lists the documents contained in the HIP and provides a checklist for sellers, buyers, estate agents and enforcement authorities.
If a document that must be included in the HIP is unavailable, the Index must say so, give the reason it is missing, and list what steps are being taken to get it.
The Index should be updated whenever documents are added or removed.
. Download a sample Home Information Pack Index (DOC, 123K)
2: Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
The Property Information Questionnaire needs to be completed by the seller. It provides a helpful checklist of simple information about a property buyers need to know before making any decision on the property.
3: Energy Performance Certificate/Predicted Energy Assessment
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Energy Efficiency Certificate gives home owners, tenants and buyers information on the energy efficiency of their property.
New homes sold 'off-plan' will need to include a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA). The PEA should be replaced by an EPC when construction of the property is complete.
4: Sustainability information for newly built homes
The Code for Sustainable Homes measures the environmental impact of a new home against nine categories. The code requirements only apply to new homes where a local council has received a building notice, initial notice or full plans application after 1 May 2008.
Newly built homes must have either:
. a certificate (or interim certificate) showing the sustainability of the home assessed against the standards under the Code for Sustainable Homes
. a nil-rated certificate where the property has not been assessed against the Code
. Code for Sustainable Homes Opens new window
The sale statement provides 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, for example with a sitting tenant
. in what capacity the seller is selling the property (for example, selling on behalf of a deceased owner)
. Download a sample Home Information Pack sale statement (DOC, 465K)
6: Evidence of title
These documents prove who owns the property.
Registered property
If the property is registered, certain documents that are available on request from the Land Registry must be included in the HIP. 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.
Unregistered land
For sales of unregistered land, the HIP must include copies of a certificate of an official search of the index map (from the Land Registry). Also, it must have the documents that the seller intends to rely on to provide evidence of title to the property and the right to sell it.
7: Standard searches
The Home Information Pack must include:
A search of the local land charges register for the property being sold
This is carried out by a local council or personal search company and you'll receive an official search certificate.
A search of the records held by the local authority on matters of interest to buyers
This includes planning decisions and road building proposals. These are referred to as local enquiries in the Home Information Pack Regulations and are carried out by a local authority or personal search company.
Details of 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).
Leasehold and commonhold properties
A copy of the lease is the only additional required document in a sellers packs or HIP or homeinformationpack for the sale of a leasehold property.
