Home Information Packs (HIPs)

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Home Information Packs (HIPs) are designed to speed up the buying and selling of property.  They contain a large proportion of the information that a solicitor would traditionally have had to wait weeks for when acting on behalf of a buyer. 

By making HIPs a legal requirement for all properties marketed for sale in England & Wales from 14th December 2007, the government has sought to streamline the process of buying and selling a property and increase awareness of the impact homes have on the environment. For example, an Energy Performance Certificate provides information on how much carbon is produced by the appliances (such as the central heating boiler & lighting) in the property. 

Quick facts

• HIPs are only required for properties in England and Wales, not Scotland

• Properties already on the market on the relevant commencement date (1st August 2007 for sales of homes with four or more bedrooms & 10th September 2007 for those with three or more bedrooms)  do not need a HIP

• All properties newly marketed after 14th December 2007 need a HIP

What goes in 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:
• An index (ie a list of the contents of the HIP)
• A sale statement (summarising the terms of sale)
• Evidence of title
• Standard searches (ie local authority enquiries and a drainage and water search)
• An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Commonhold information (where appropriate)
• A copy of the lease (where appropriate)

Documents that are optional include:
• A Home Condition Report (HCR)
• Additional leasehold, information
• Guarantees and warranties
• Other searches relevant to the particular area

Who compiles HIPs?
Sellers can hire estate agents, solicitors, separate pack providers, or do it themselves.

I'm selling my house privately - do I need a Home Information Pack?
If you are marketing your property, even if it's just by putting a 'for sale' sign in the window, you need a Pack. Sales where no marketing takes place (e.g. to a member of the family) won't need a Pack.

Who pays for the Pack?
The seller is responsible for the cost of a Home Information Pack. The cost of the Pack is down to the market, but sellers will often be able to defer costs until late in the sale.

Do I have to put electrical certificates in my Pack?
Electrical certificates (past or present) are not a required component of the Pack, but can be included if the seller has them.

I've lost guarantees of work I have had done - what do I do?
Don't worry - guarantees aren't a required component of the Pack, but can be included if you have them.

Should the pack include a Home Condition Report?
A Home Condition Report could help you sell your property more quickly if it shows that it is in good condition, or if it highlights any problems straight away for potential buyers, it can avoid nasty surprises for buyers later in the process.

My house has been on the market before HIPs came in. Do I have to get a HIP?
If your house has not been taken off the market i.e. continuous marketing has occured, then no, you will not need to commission a HIP. If  however, there was a break in marketing you will need to supply a HIP.

The above information has been compiled with the aid of the Official Government Website for Home Information Packs. 

To locate your nearest registered HIP inspector, click here