HIP's Selling

I'm a Seller

What does it mean to me?

As a Seller, providing a Home Information Pack up front should mean that buyers are able to make more informed decisions about buying your home and should reduce the likelihood of nasty surprises coming up later in the process and delaying the sale.

Do all properties need a HIP?

The vast majority of properties will require a HIP, however there are a small number of exceptions:

• 4 bedroom properties marketed continuously from before the 1st August 2007
• 3 bedroom properties marketed continuously from before the 10th September 2007
• Studios, 1 and 2 bedroom properties marketed continuously from before the 14th December 2007
• Properties where there is no marketing (e.g. sale to member of your family)
• Non-residential properties
• Mixed sales (e.g. shop with flat)
• Sales of portfolios of properties
• Unsafe properties and properties to be demolished

What goes in a HIP?

A HIP includes documents that are required when homes are brought and sold. Some documents are mandatory and others optional.

The mandatory documents are:

• An index (i.e. 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

How long does a Pack last for?

While the property is on the market there is no need to update the Home Information Pack (ultimately, the market decides whether the documents remain acceptable and up to date).

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then starts again, you would normally be required to assemble a new Pack and to update those documents which are now out of date according to the requirements of the Home Information Pack Regulations. 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 sale 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.