Guide to HIPS
What’s in a Home Information Pack?
The Home Information Pack contains important information that buyers and sellers need to know. Home Information Packs including Energy Performance Certificates are now required for all properties before they are marketed for sale.
For sellers, providing a pack upfront should reduce the liklehood of any nasty surprises in the selling process that could delay the sale, as buyers will be able to make more informed decisions about purchasing their home.
Your Movello representative will explain the process of producing and paying for a HIP at the time we attend your property to provide the market appraisal.
We aim to make the process as easy as possible and with your consent will apply for the HIP through our HIP provider OpenBook.
For buyers, the pack provides essential information about properties they are considering buying, free of charge.
What does a pack contain?
Home Information Pack Index
The index provides a checklist for sellers, buyers, estate agents and enforcement authorities. Where a a document that must be included in the pack is unavailable, the index must say so, give th reason it is missing and indicate what steps are being taken to obtain it. Where documents are added to , or removed from the pack at a later stage, the index should be revised accordingly.
Energy Performance Certificate
Energy performance certificates tell you how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes – which should have the lowest fuel bills – are in band A.
The certificate also tells you, on a scale of A-G, about the impact the home has on the environment. Better rated homes should have less impact through carbon dioxide emissions.
The average property in the UK is in band D-E for both ratings. The certificate includes recommendations on ways to improve the home’s energy efficiency to save you money and help the environment.
Sales Statement
The sales statement should provide some basic information about the property, including:
- The Address of the property
- 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
Standard Searches
The Home information Pack must contain:
- The local land charges register relating to the property being sold. Once a search is complete you will receive an official search certificate.
- Other records held by the local authority on matters of interest to the buyer such as planning decisions and road building proposals. These are referred to as local enquiries.
- The provision of drainage and water services to the property.
Evidence of title
These documents prove that the seller owns the property and therefore has the right to sell it. Where the property being sold is registered, certain documents that are available on request from the Land Registry must be included in the Pack. These provide an up to date official record of who owns the land and consists 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
How long does a pack last?
While the property is on the market there is no need to update the Home Information Pack.
If the sale of your property stops and then starts again, you would normally be required to assemble a new pack and to update those documents that are now our of date. However, the seller can carry on using the same pack without the need to update any of the documents in the following circumstances:
Where marketing stopped because the seller accepted an offer and wants to restart marketing because the sale has fallen through, provided that remarketing starts within one year of the date when marketing first began or, if later, within 28 days of the sal falling through. Where marketing has stopped for any other reason, the seller may remarket the property with the same pack provided that remarketing starts within one year of the date when marketing first began.
The information provided in this guide has been extracted from the Government website www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk and was correct at the time of printing. Please check with your Movello representative for further details.
