Home Information Packs (HIPs)
If you already know all about HIPs and wish to order one for a property please
click here
If you are looking for more information about Home Information Packs (HIPs) please read on...
A HIP is a set of documents containing key information about a property that is to be sold.
It contains a number of compulsory documents and may include some additional optional ones. The compulsory ones are;
- Index or table of contents
- Energy Performance Certificate (more information)
- A sale statement summarising the terms of sale
- Evidence of title
- Searches - local authority, water, drainage
- Information about the lease if appropriate
The Government introduced HIPs in an attempt to speed up the process of buying and selling a home.
The intention is that important information about the property is made available to the buyer up front. This
should avoid any unpleasant surprises and reduce the number of sales that fall through.
As from the beginning of 2008 virtually all residential properties of whatever size must have one
when they are put on the market. The only exceptions are;
- Mixed purpose commercial and residential properties
- Holiday homes without right to 12-month occupancy
- Tenanted properties
- Private sales where the property is not actually marketed
- Unsafe / uninhabitable properties and those due for demolition
- Portfolios of properties
- New build properties bought off-plan
What is the cost of a HIP?
The cost of a HIP is not fixed by the government and prices vary dramatically. CAL UK Ltd provide
a low-cost HIP service to home owners, to
estate agents and to solicitors. Please follow
the relevant link for more details.
