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Home Information Packs (HIPS)

Home Information Packs - do I need one?

A Home Information Pack, more commonly known as a HIP, is required to advertise any property for sale in England & Wales, with certain exclusions.

What are the Exclusions?

The following properties are exempt from the Home Information Pack regulations: 

• Properties in Scotland and Northern Ireland 
• Property not offered on the open market (e.g. direct sale to family member, neighbour, or friend) 
• Non-residential property (i.e. shops or mixed commercial) 
• Properties sold with sitting tenants and not available for owner occupation 
• Homes on the market before HIPS were introduced

What is a Home Information Pack?

A Home Information Pack contains a variety of legal documents about a property being offered for sale including an energy rating certificate.

Home owners are required to provide a Home Information Pack (HIP) for buyers when a property is placed on the market for sale. This applies to 3 and 4+ bedroom properties now, and for 1 and 2 bedroom homes from 14 December 2007.

Home Information Packs relate to marketing of the property by any method - you don't need to be selling with an estate agent to comply with or purchase HIPS which are available from any authorised supplier.

What does a HIP contain?

The main documents included in the HIP consist of an energy rating certificate and other documents required to exchange contracts on the property. The HIP does not include a Home Condition Report (building survey) at this time.

Main Documents 

• Energy Efficiency Report 
• Terms of sale 
• Evidence of the title 
• Standard searches 
• Planning consents, agreements, building control certificates 
• Sellers property information form 
• Warranties and guarantees

Leasehold Supplement 

• Copy of the lease
• Service charge accounts
• Building insurance policy details and payment receipts
• Regulations made by the landlord or management company
• Memorandum and articles of the landlord and management company

Aren't 'free' HIPS offered by estate agents?

Take great care, so-called 'free' Home Information Packs are ALWAYS subject to terms and conditions. Of course, it's not really 'free' at all, the cost of the HIP must be paid for (by you) at some point, usually by a higher commission rate on the property sale or a tie in clause, meaning that your agent 'owns' the HIP and you can't change to another agent if you need to.

Buying your HIP direct means that you (not the estate agent) own the HIP and can use it with any other agent or private marketing. It will also be cheaper than the true hidden cost of an agent's 'free' HIP.

TheBigMoveOnline has a special deal for our customers. We offer a HIP that you own yourself, with no restrictive terms and the option to defer payment until completion of the sale (no upfront cost). This is not a 'free' HIP, but is probably the cheapest way to buy your HIP complete and direct. You can save even more by combining your conveyancing with the HIP.

To help you understand HIPs and how they work we’ve prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Further Information

For HIP Providers and further information, check out:

• www.communities.gov.uk
• www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk

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