A Home Information Pack (HIP) is required when you sell a freehold or leasehold property in England and Wales. The government introduced this new system in stages from 1st August 2007 at which point all 4-bedroomed or larger properties needed a HIP. On 10th September 3-bed properties were added too. As from 14th December 2007 all other properties were included thus meaning that a HIP is now needed for all houses sold (there are a few exceptions; please see our FAQs).

As a temporary measure, the government will allow sellers to put their properties on the market if they have merely commissioned and paid for a HIP even if they don’t physically have the HIP. However, eventually you will not be allowed to market your house until you have a HIP ready. As a seller, you alone will be responsible for the cost of having this HIP prepared.

Will you be looking to buy a property in England or Wales?

If so, the person selling is required to provide you with a HIP on the property and you will need to know what you need to do with it. Give us a call on 01279 725521 and we will advise you.

What is a Home Information Pack?

A HIP is basically an indexed set of specific legal documents.

Some documents MUST be included in the HIP whereas others are optional and can be included at the seller’s discretion and at an increased cost.

The most important compulsory documents are:

• Ownership details (copy title deeds)
• The results of local and drainage searches
• An Energy Performance Certificate. This is part of the government’s drive to make homes more energy efficient and meet EU directives to reduce carbon emissions.

There are many other documents which can optionally be included such as a Home Condition Report (similar to, but not as detailed as, a survey) and a list of fixtures and fittings included in the proposed sale. Choosing to include these may help you to sell but will also add to the cost of having the HIP prepared.

What is the purpose of this HIP system?

The idea is to speed up the conveyancing process by giving potential buyers as much information as possible BEFORE they make an offer. Without the HIP system, the government believes that the number of transactions which are delayed or fail is higher as in many cases vital information comes to light only after an offer has been accepted.

How can MovingAhead help you?

The MovingAhead Home Information Pack service is available to anyone buying or selling a property in England and Wales so whether you are a seller or a buyer we can help.

By choosing MovingAhead to prepare your HIP you retain your independence and the freedom to change estate agents if needed as you will not be tied in to their own HIP service. You can also be confident that you have a first class conveyancing team working to get you moving as quickly as possible.

How do I find out more?

Whether you are buying or selling a property you can call us on 01279 725521 to talk to a member of our team about Home Information Packs or obtain a quotation. We are only a phone call away.

Alternatively, Click here to read our comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions on Home Information Packs.