Under H.M. Government regulations Home Information Packs are now compulsory for all residential properties being marketed for sale. The Pack is intended to provide prospective purchasers with some background documents about the house/flat for sale, such as an energy performance (efficiency) certificate and a local search.

It is illegal to fail to comply with the HIP regulations and indeed estate agents would refuse to market a house unless the regulations are complied with.

As Solicitors we can commission the HIP for you. Just let us know as soon as you are thinking of selling your house. Estate agents may also be able to arrange a HIP, but to avoid any difficulty, it is best to obtain the HIP through ourselves as your solicitors. Contact us and we will speedily put all the arrangements in hand at the same time or even before you instruct any estate agent.

Please bear in mind:

1. You will want to be sure that the HIP can be used whatever estate agent is instructed.
2. You will also need to be sure that the HIP will be made available promptly without difficulty in the event that it becomes necessary to change estate agents (as not infrequently occurs) in order to achieve a sale at a satisfactory price.
3. Estate agents would not have the necessary expertise to ensure that legal title matters in the HIP are dealt with satisfactorily.
4. It would not be satisfactory to release your unregistered deeds to an estate agent or to their HIP provider.
5. If we provide the HIP it will belong to you and will not be branded with the name of any particular estate agent.
6. If we provide the HIP, you will not be tied to any particular estate agent just because they have provided the HIP.
7. We will make the HIP fully available to you and to whatever different estate agents may be instructed in the course of the marketing of your house.

The important first step is to contact us so that we can start arranging the HIP. We will provide you with a swift and efficient service, and you can then take your time deciding which estate agent (or agents) to use. At the same time as arranging the HIP we, as your solicitors, can prepare a draft contract and other essential legal documents and have them in readiness on your file waiting to be used without delay as soon as you have a purchaser for your home. All properties which are residential require a HIP whether they are freehold or leasehold. So houses and flats, both large and small, are all subject to the regulations. There are only a few exceptions such as properties which are to be sold subject to a tenancy; also commercial properties are exempt. The HIP is required to contain various items:

1. An index with a list of the documents included.
2. A sale statement.
3. An Energy Performance Certificate (or a Home Condition Report which includes the Certificate). The EPC is prepared by a Home Inspector commissioned by the HIP supplier and contains details of the energy efficiency of the house (information as to insulation and carbon emissions etc.).
4. Copies of your legal title to the home.
5. A Local Authority Search (a Local Authority Search is the result of an inspection of registers maintained by the Local Authority with regard to matters such as planning permissions, local land charges, roadways, compulsory purchase, closing orders etc.)
6. A Water & Drainage Search (details with regard to mains water supply and public Drainage in relation to your home).
7. A Property Information Questionnaire.

Other documents such as a Fixtures, Fittings & Contents Form are optional. Also the HIP can contain a Home Condition Report: however this item would result in a significant additional cost for the HIP. The Government believe that the HIP arrangements may help to speed up the sale of a house, by providing potential Buyers with some background documents at an early date. However, this view and the regulations have been subject to much criticism and it is possible that there may be changes in the future.

As the regulations are in place, there is no choice but to comply with them and it is best to do so as promptly as possible when you are considering a sale of your home.

The preparation of the HIP inevitably has a cost implication for sellers of residential properties. The price will vary depending on the type of property to be sold etc. Please ask us for current costs and payment arrangements when you are ready to sell your house.

We would normally recommend that only the minimum HIP necessary to comply with the regulations is obtained.