What is in a Home Information Pack?

What is in a Home Information Pack / HIP?

Home Information Packs - Compulsory Documents

 For any home being sold in England or Wales, you MUST have a Home Information Pack (HIP) in place. The HIP needs to be available to potential buyers from the first day that you or your estate agent puts your property on the market.   Estate agents are not allowed to advertise your home until the Home Information Pack is in place.

HIPs contains key details about your home.  The purpose of a Home Information Pack is to help to speed up the conveyancing process so that the buyer and their solicitor can view important information about the home at the very beginning of the transaction. The buyer is then more informed so HIPs should help to prevent delays due to unknown facts.

A Home Information Pack for a freehold property must contain:

1. Home Information Pack Index

A list of the documents contained in the Home Information Pack, which provides a checklist for sellers, buyers, estate agents and enforcement authorities. If a mandatory document is missing from the Home Information Pack, the Index at the front of the HIP must explain why it is missing, and what is being done to rectify the omission. The Index should be kept up to date whenever documents are added or removed.

2. The Sale statement

This is a statement providing fundamental information about the property, including:

- address of the property for sale

- confirmation of 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

3. Evidence of title

If the property is registered then this will be the official copies of your property title from the Land Registry, 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.

For sales of unregistered land, the Home Information Pack must include copies from the Land Registry of a certificate of an official search of the index map. It must also contain the documents that the seller intends to rely on to provide evidence of title to the property and the right to sell it.

4. The Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)

This should be completed by the seller (not the estate agent). The PIQ provides basic facts about the property that most buyers will need to know before making any decision on the property.

5. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA)

The EPC gives home owners, tenants and buyers information on the energy efficiency of their property. The PEA is made available where a new home is sold 'off-plan'. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) should be in place when the property has been completed.

6. Sustainability information (only required 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; or a nil-rated certificate where the property has not been assessed against the Code

7. Standard searches

Local Search which consists of:

- 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.

Drainage Search:

This provides details of the drainage and water services to the property, and usually includes a colour map showing the position of the drains and pipes that serve the property. This search can be made direct with the local water company or through a search agent company, but the search must comply with the HIP Regulations.

Leasehold properties require a Home Information with all of the documents listed above AND a copy of the lease. If there is a problem locating a copy of the lease, it can be added to the Home Information Pack within 28 days after the property goes on the market.