When do I have to provide a HIP?

Properties marketed for sale from 14 December 2007 in England and Wales will need a Home Information Pack (HIP), which includes a home energy rating.

The pack includes an Energy Performance Certificate, containing advice on how to cut carbon emissions and fuel bills. Also included are documents such as a sale statement, searches and evidence of title.

Currently, any property that was already on the market on the relevant commencement date (i.e. 1 August 2007 for sales of homes with four or more bedrooms; 10 September 2007 for those with three or more bedrooms and 14 December for all properties) does not need to have a HIP.

At this stage no such date has been set when all properties that are on the market will be required to have a HIP.

What goes in a HIP?

A hip includes documents that are required when homes are bought and sold. Some documents are mandatory and others optional.

The mandatory documents are:

• An index (i.e. a list of the contents of the HIP
• A sale statement (summarising the terms of sale)
• Evidence of title
• Standard searches (i.e. local authority enquiries and a drainage and water search)
• An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Commonhold information (where appropriate)
• A copy of the lease (where appropriate)

 

Documents that are optional include:

• A Home Condition Report (HCR)
• Additional leasehold, information
• Guarantees and warranties
• Other searches relevant to the particular area

 

Who compiles HIPS?
Sellers can hire estate agents, solicitors, separate pack providers, or do it themselves.

Are HIPS required across the UK?

No – only England and Wales

I’m selling my house privately – do I need a Home Information Pack?

If you are marketing your property, even if it’s just putting a ‘for sale’ sign in the window, you need a pack. Sales where no marketing takes place (e.g. to a member of the family) won’t need a pack.

Who pays for the Pack?

The seller is responsible for the cost of a Home Information Pack. The cost of the Pack is down to the market, but sellers will often be able to defer costs until late in the sale.

Do I have to put electrical certificates in my pack?

Electrical certificates (past or present) are not required component of the Pack, but can be included if the seller has them.

I’ve lost guarantees of work I have done – what do I do?

Don’t worry – guarantees aren’t a required component of the Pack, but can be included if you have them.

Should the pack include a Home Condition Report?

A Home Condition Report could help you sell your property more quickly if it shows that it is in good condition, or if it highlights any problems straight away for potential buyers, it can avoid nasty surprises for buyers later in process.

Do we need the completed HIP before the property is marked?

No. currently you only need proof that the HIP has been commissioned.

What is required if the property is leasehold?

If the property for which a HIP is being ordered is leasehold then you currently only require copy of the lease. As of December 1st 2008 the following documentation is likely to be included:

• A copy of the lease
• Any regulations or rules that apply to the property that aren’t mentioned in the lease and any proposed amendment to same.
• Statements or summaries of service charges covering the previous 36 months.
• Where appropriate, the most recent request for payment of service charges, ground rent, insurance against damage for the building in which the property is situated, and insurance in respect of personal injury caused by or within the building during the 12 month period before marketing began.
• The name and address of the current or proposed lessor, and details of any managing agent that has been appointed or proposed by the lessor to manage the property.
• A summary of any works being undertaken or proposed that will affect the property or the building in which it’s situated.

What is required if the property is Commonhold?

If the property for which a HIP is being ordered is leasehold then you currently only require a copy of the lease. As of June 1st 2008 the following documentation is likely to be included:

• An official copy of the individual register and title plan for the common parts. This is I addition to official copies for the unit (see our section on Evidence of title).
• An official copy of the commonhold community statement.
• Copies of any regulations or rules not described in the commonhold community statement and any amendments proposed to those regulations or to the commonhold community statement.
• Copies of any request for payments made in the previous 12 months in respect of commonhold assessment, reserve fund levy and insurance (if not covered by a request for commonhold assessment).
• The name and address of any managing agent or other person appointed or proposed to be appointed by the commonhold association to manage the commonhold.
• A summary of current or proposed works affecting the commonhold.

                       

What is required if the property is unregistered?

For sales of unregistered land, the HIP must include copies of a certificate of an official search of the index map and those documents that the seller intends to rely on to provide evidence of title to the property, and thus the right to sell it.

Do new homes still require a HIP?

Where a home is marketed “off- plan” before it is physically complete, it will need a pack (subject to the packs phased implementation) but it will not have a full Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Instead the pack will contain a Predicted Energy Assessment. This will look similar to the graphs from a full EPC and will be produced from the design.

 

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

An Energy Performance Certificate or EPC is the product of an energy survey that is carried out by a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). The certificate provides two separate ratings to indicate the overall efficiency of the property and the associated CO2 impact. The certificate also includes instructions on how to improve the overall energy efficiency of the property.

How long does it take before the HIP is delivered?

We aim to have HIPs completed within 10 working days of ordering. We closely monitor the progress of your HIP to ensure completion is as speedy as possible.

How is the energy survey carried out?

Once the HIP has been ordered we will contact you by telephone to arrange a convenient date on which to carry out the Energy Survey. The energy assessment is usually performed within 3 working days of ordering the HIP.

Do you charge extra for leasehold or commonhold properties?

Yes an additional fee is charged on leasehold and commonhold properties. This is to cover the administration cost associated with ordering the additional documentation. We strive to keep these additional costs as low as possible.

What format are the HIPS delivered in?

The completed HIPs are provided in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format as a complete document or as sub documents relating to each section.

What is a personal search?

A Personal Search is an inspection of records maintained by the local authority. The search is carried out by an agent that obtains access to the records and takes copies of the required documentation.