Home Information Packs (HIP)

From 10th September 2007 the government has directed that when you decide to sell a three bedroom or larger property you must provide the purchaser with a Home Information Pack (“HIP”) which contains information about your property including amongst other things ownership, use, local and drainage searches and an energy performance report.

Until the end of the year, the government will allow people to market their properties as soon as they have commissioned a pack - rather than making them wait until they have received them.

The government is also planning to phase in packs for smaller properties as sufficient energy assessors become ready to start work.

Requiring the seller to provide information “up front” rather than the buyer to “make enquiries” represents a substantial change in conveyancing and the aim the change is to speed up the process.

Before marketing your property you will need to obtain the required information from a variety of sources including the local authority and energy efficiency experts.