A buyers guide to HIPs
A buyers guide to HIPs
HIPs: a buyers guide
A Home Information Pack (HIP) gives you information about a property before you decide to make an offer. From 6 April 2009, important changes were made to HIPs. This means better information is available from the first day a property is put on the market.
What are HIPs?
HIPs are only available in England and Wales. Before HIPs were introduced, buyers usually had to wait until after they had made a formal offer before they saw essential information on the property. As a buyer, you would usually have to apply for and pay for this information yourself. The HIP gives you a chance to see these important documents free of charge before you make an offer. Once you are interested in a property, you should ask to see the Home Information Pack.
From 6 April 2009, the HIP must be available on the first day a property is marketed for sale.
See an example of a HIP - Download a sample HIP (PDF, 2990K)
What is in a HIP?
The HIP is made up of required (compulsory) and authorised (optional) items.
There shouldnt be any marketing or advertising material in the pack, so make sure it contains official information only.
Listed below are all the compulsory documents that need to be included:
- Home Information Pack Index
- the new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ), from 6 April 2009
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA)
- sustainability information (required for newly built homes)
- sale statement
- evidence of title
- standard searches (local authority and drainage and water)
- a copy of the lease for leasehold properties
- commonhold documents, where appropriate
For a complete guide to the compulsory and optional documents follow the links below.
Checking the HIP
You should check to see if any of the compulsory documents are missing. If anything is missing, make sure that theres a satisfactory explanation and an assurance that the missing items will be provided as soon as possible.
Should you choose to enter into negotiations to buy a property, you should pass the HIP to your solicitor. They will find it useful in their pre-contract enquiries.
How much will a HIP cost?
If you are a buyer, nothing: youll get a copy of the HIP free on any property you are interested in. However, you may be asked to pay copying and postage costs. You are not required to have made an offer on a property before requesting a copy.
You cant be charged for the Energy Performance Certificate - it must be provided free of charge.
For a HIP Quotation, please click here