Welcome to Homesbury

Home Information Pack (HIP's)

 

Since 14 December 2007 every home put on the market, no matter what size, must have a Home Information Pack. It brings together valuable information at the start of the process - such as a sale statement, local searches and evidence of title - which could save you money, time and stress. The Pack also includes an Energy Performance Certificate that contains advice on how to cut CO2 emissions and fuel bills.

Make sure your estate agent shows you the Pack.

HIPs provide key information needed by buyers and sellers at the very start of the home-buying process, making transactions more efficient and less likely to fall through between offer and exchange. HIP documents give consumers a clear, up front picture of what they are buying and selling.

 

We are fully ready for HIPs, and are happy to provide you with any advice you may require. Please feel free to phone us on 01743 342142 for further information.

Regulations covering the legal content of the packs are published by the Department of Communities and Local Government (D.C.L.G.). This will be followed by further amendments later in the year covering other properties, search information, the Home Condition Report (no longer mandatory, but voluntary) and Certification Scheme and the way in which Home Condition Report Registers are to be held and accessed.

Contents of the current pack include:

1. terms of sale
2. evidence of title
3. replies to standard preliminary enquiries
4. copies of planning and building regulation consents
5. guarantees for work carried out on the property
6. for new properties, copies of warranties and guarantees
7. any guarantees for work carried out on the property
8. replies to local searches; and
9. a home condition report is no longer mandatory but optional based on a professional survey of the property.
10. energy efficiency assesment rating and certification. EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
11. CO2 emissions and graphical information

Key elements also include the "rating scheme" of a property:

Rating 1 - no repair beyond normal maintenance currently needed.
Rating 2 - repairs or replacements are needed but the Home Inspector does not consider these urgent or serious.
Rating 3 - there are defects which are either serious and/or require urgent repair or replacement.

An example of the contents of the Home Inspection Pack can be viewed here in pdf* format. Please note that this is an "example" only of the final document. ( * required software Adobe Acrobat Reader)



Homesbury have a sample Energy Performance Certificate so that you can view the contents and the energy labelling system which will commenced on August 1st. 2007. You can view the example here

Homesbury are able to discuss the H.I.P. process with you. Please contact us to ask any questions you may have.

The Government have set up a website to provide further detailed information regarding Home Inspection Packs which is being regularly updated. Further information is available on the government site which can be viewed here