 |  |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
HIPS
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 (EPC), 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.The following compulsory documents must be included in a Home Information Pack.
- Home Information Pack Index
- Energy Performance Certificate
- Sale statement
- Standard searches
- Evidence of title
- Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate.
- Home Condition Report
- Legal summary
- Home use/contents forms
For Buyers
If you are buying your home, just ask whoever is advertising it for sale for the Home Information Pack. This is usually an estate agent, but could be another business or individual.
If it's an estate agent, they must give you a copy of the Pack free of charge (although they may make a reasonable charge to cover the costs of copying and posting it). If the seller isn't using an estate agent, you should be able to get the Pack directly from them. For sellers
If you are selling your home, there are a number of options:
- Use an estate agent
- Get a solicitor to do it
- Use a specialist Pack provider
- Compile it yourself.
- Enlist the help of other businesses, such as financial advisers
- Some supermarkets have also indicated that they might provide Packs.
On 29 September 2006, the Search Code and HIP Code were introduced, delivering quality standards across both the property search industry and in Home Information Packs (HIPs).
If you are commissioning a HIP, you may wish to consider a company that is a member of the HIP Code. Alternatively, if you are commissioning searches or are compiling the Pack yourself, you may wish to consider a company that has signed up to the Search Code.
Here you can find a full list of organisations that have signed up to one or both of the codes at the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB). The PCCB has been established to maintain a register of firms committed to operating within these standards of practice and to independently monitor compliance with the Codes. The PCCB will also encourage organisations to sign up to the Codes to promote increased consumer protection.
For more information go to: http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk