Tips on HIPs and Home Information Packs
Remember to ask if your HIP provider will give you a printed version of your Home Information Pack in the fee quoted
Always ask to see the pack - you have a right to see it and doing so can save time and money.
Find out if a was commissioned as part of the Pack. They are not mandatory so you do not need to include one. An Energy Performance Certificate MUST be included.
Make sure you give a copy of the pack to your legal advisor at an early stage - this could save you time and money.
Do not allow unexpected cold callers into your home to carry out an Energy Performance Certificate or Home Condition Reports.
Sellers must not charge for the HIP pack itself, but they can request a reasonable charge for copying and posting a Home Information Pack.
If you sell the home before you receive the Home Information Pack, there is no longer any need to provide a Pack, you do however have a legal duty to provide the EPC before or on the exchange of contracts.
All buyers get the HIP information for free - so the Pack will be of particular benefit to first-time buyers.
Home Information Packs must be available at the time a property is put on the market - if not, the person marketing the property could be fined £200 a day.
Always use a HIP Provider who has subscribed to The HIP Code and carries The HIP Code logo.