What is a Home Information Pack?
What are HIP Packs?
HIP packs (Home Information Pack) are the
packs of information that must be prepared before a
qualifying residential property can be offered for
sale. A HIP pack for a freehold property will
contain up to 100 pages of information comprising:-
An index (i.e. a list of the contents of the pack),
A Sale Statement (summarising terms of the sale),
Evidence of title, Standard searches (i.e. Local
Authority enquiries and a drainage and water
search), an Energy Performance Certificate and where
appropriate, a new homes warranty. A typical Home
Information Pack for a leasehold property will
contain up to 200 pages of information. In addition
to the above list it must include: A copy of the
lease Information on service charges and Information
on insurance. The documents listed above are
mandatory. In addition, the following “authorised
documents” may be included in a Home Information
Pack on a voluntary basis. A Home Condition Report
Guarantees and warranties other searches.
How much does it cost?
Our HIPS cost £364.94p (incl. VAT)
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Want to know more?
Answers to most questions can be found below, but if it isn’t, please contact us with any questions:
>>What is a HIP?
>>How long will it take to produce a HIP?
>>Can the property be offered for sale before the HIP has been produced?
>>What happens if mandatory documents are unobtainable?
>>Who is responsible for preparing a HIP?
>>Will the HIP include a survey?
>>Will the HIP include a valuation?
>>Who will pay for the HIP?
>>Are there any exceptions to the HIP legislation?
>>Who has the right to view the HIP?
>>Who will interpret the HIP?
>>How long is a HIP valid for?
>>What happens if the property is taken off the market?
>>Will I have to fill out complex forms to request a
HIP?
How long will it take to produce a HIP?
It will typically take one to two weeks to obtain the necessary documents. This means that the finished HIP will usually take two to three weeks to produce.
Can the property be offered for sale before the HIP has been produced?
Currently, qualifying properties can be
offered for sale without a HIP.
What happens if mandatory documents are unobtainable?
If a mandatory document is lost or unobtainable the legislation allows the property to be marketed with a partially completed HIP after a delay of 14 days. The responsible party must continue to take all reasonable steps to obtain the missing document or documents and must produce an updated HIP if and when the additional documents are obtained.
Who is responsible for preparing a HIP?
If a property is being marketed by an estate agent then the agent will be responsible for ensuring that a HIP has been produced. If a property is being offered for sale privately, then the obligation to produce a HIP falls upon the vendor.
Will the HIP include a survey?
For the time being, the HIP does not have to include any sort of survey and most HIPS will not include one.
Will the HIP include a valuation?
For the time being, a HIP will not include a valuation.
Who will pay for the HIP?
Some estate agents will pay for the cost of producing the HIP and recover it through charging higher fees. Other estate agents will ask the vendor to pay for their own HIP up front. Some agents may charge a mark-up on the price of the HIP. If a homeowner is selling a property privately they will have to pay the cost of producing the HIP themselves.
UKHousing.com charge
£369
(Freehold) £379 (Leasehold) excl. VAT for HIPS.
Are there any exceptions to the HIP legislation?
For the time being the legislation only affects properties that are sold in England and Wales. Properties in Northern Ireland and Scotland are excluded although Scotland will be introducing its own similar legislation in a couple of year’s time.
The legislation only applies to residential properties. Commercial properties, property portfolios, tenanted properties and most farms are exempt.
A homeowner may also sell a property to a member of their immediate family without preparing a HIP.
If you are looking to purchase a property under the Right to Buy scheme a HIP will not be required.
A HIP must be produced in all other cases and these will comprise the vast majority of all property sales.
Who has the right to view the HIP?
All prospective purchasers have the right to view the HIP. They may choose to read a hard copy of the pack or they may choose to look at an electronic version of the document.
Prospective purchasers also have the right to request their own hard copy of the HIP to take away with them. However, a vendor or their estate agent is permitted to charge for the reasonable cost of producing a hard copy version of the HIP.
Who will interpret the HIP?
The HIP will include a number of legal documents including searches, evidence of title and for a leasehold property, a copy of the lease. The great majority of prospective purchasers will need professional help to interpret these documents. Vendors who are marketing their own property privately have no obligation to help prospective purchasers to interpret the HIP. They can just advise them to ask their solicitors.
Estate agents will be expected to help people to interpret a HIP although many will not have enough legal or technical knowledge to be able to do so. In practice, the reply to most questions is likely to be “you will have to ask your solicitor”.
Will the purchasers still need to instruct a surveyor?
Initially at least, the vast majority of HIPS will not include a Home Condition Report. If the purchaser wants a survey they will have to commission their own.
How long is a HIP valid for?
A HIP remains valid for as long as the property remains on the market, however long it takes to find a buyer. The searches are only valid for six months and if a sale has not been achieved before then, the purchaser’s solicitors will insist that new searches are obtained.
What happens if the property is taken off the market?
If a property is taken off the market for more than 12 months then the HIP becomes invalid and a new one will have to be produced before the property can be marketed again.
What experience and proven systems does UKHousing.com have to manufacture HIPs? UKHousing has partnered with Hammonds Direct, who have unrivalled systems and 3 production centres with over 400 experienced employees. This experience together with the tried and tested technology means UKhousing via Hammands Direct, is well placed to deliver your HIPs fast and at a low price.
How long will it take to produce a HIP?
Unlike other providers, we will be manufacturing every HIP ourselves rather than relying on third parties. This means we can guarantee a fast and reliable service.
What format will the HIP be in?
That’s up to you. We offer
an electronic pdf format,
Paper
(hard copy) or Memory stick.
Who will chase any delayed items?
It’s managed centrally, with automated flags warning of outstanding documents and prompting actions.
Will I have to fill out complex forms to request a HIP?
No. All you need to set up a HIP are the property details, including title type, some other information and a contact number.
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