Home Information Packs (HIPS)

To conform to government legislation, anyone selling a property from 14th December 2007 will be required to commission a Home Information Pack (HIP).

So what is a HIP?

A basic pack is currently made up of several components:

• Index of Contents
• Proof of Title
• Statement of Sale
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Searches (Local Authority, Water and Drainage)
• A copy of the lease (if applicable)

There are other optional additions such as a Home Condition Report (HCR) and further leasehold documents (for example management information) which although not necessary, can speed-up the sales process.

As a seller, what should I be doing?

The introduction of HIPs was intended to shorten the time in between agreeing a sale and exchanging contracts. As a seller, the more information you have to hand before you market your property, the better. A good course of action would be to:

• Instruct a solicitor (with experience in your area) to act on your behalf before you come to the market, they can pre-empt many of the potential stumbling blocks that could occur through a sale.
• If your property is leasehold; ensure that the service charge payments are up to date and that a copy of the lease is readily available

How do I do this?

Although the process is fairly similar for everybody, there are many different HIP providers offering both varied services and prices. At Marsh & Parsons, we have strong working relations with several of these but it is important to consult with the Manager of your nearest Marsh & Parsons office prior to instructing your HIP so that they can match your needs with the most suitable provider.