What is A
HIP?
Why do I need a HIP?
What
documents are included in a HIP?
What do I need to include in my sales
statement?
How do
I make the HIP available to buyers?
When should the
HIP be produced?
What do I
need to do with the Property Information Questionnaire
(PIQ)?
Where can I
find more information?
What is A
HIP?
The Home Information Pack (also known as the HIP) is a
collection of documents that provides a buyer with key information
on the property and is provided by the seller or the seller's
agent.
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Why do
I need a HIP?
The Home Information Pack is a benefit to the seller because it
makes it easier for buyers to make an informed decision on the
quality of the home and reduces the risk of problems occurring
later.
Another aim of the HIP is also to raise awareness of the energy
efficiency of our homes and, as a result, tackle climate
change.
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What documents are included in
a HIP?
The following documents are mandatory within a Home Information
Pack:
- Index:
this lists the documents in the pack and acts as a checklist for
all parties involved in the sale.
- Predicted Energy Assessment
(PEA):
for newly built homes that are usually marketed before they are
complete. This should be replaced by a full EPC when the home is
built.
- Energy Performance Certificate
(EPC):
this shows a property's energy efficiency, recommends ways to
improve efficiency and explains its environmental impact in terms
of carbon emissions. An EPC derives from the Standard Assessment
Procedure (also known as SAP assessments). If your property is
already built, you will require an RdSAP to obtain your
EPC.
- Sale statement:
basic information about each individual property.
- Standard
searches:
these include local land registry charges, other records held by
the local authority and provision of drainage & water services
to the property.
- Evidence of
title:
to prove that the seller owns the property.
- Code for Sustainable
Homes:
a HIP for a newly built home must have a certificate (or interim
certificate) showing the rating that the home has received in
reference to the Code for Sustainable Homes.
- Property Information
Questionnaire (PIQ):
from 6 April 2009, a PIQ will be required, providing a summary of
information about a property, which will further aid buyers to make
an informed decision on purchasing the home.
- Copy of the
lease:
for leasehold properties, where applicable.
Optional documents
- Home Condition
Report:
describes the property's physical condition.
- Additional leasehold
documents:
such as information on service charges.
- Legal summary:
provides a plain English explanation of legal information in the
HIP.
- Home use/content
forms:
provide information on boundaries, notices, services, sharing with
neighbours, planning permissions, fixtures/fittings/contents
included in the sale.
- New Home
Warranty:
certificate of insurance from your warranty provider.
- Other documents:
such as non-standard searches, rights of way, guarantees for
maintenance and renovation work carried out.
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What do
I need to include in my sales statement?
A sales statement needs to state the following and should be typed
on company headed paper:
- What is the address of the property to
be sold?
- Is the property freehold, commonhold or
leasehold?
- Is the title to the property registered,
unregistered or not yet registered but there is another registered
title for the land?
- Who is selling the property? The owner
or owners / a representative with the necessary authority to sell
the property for an owner who has died / a representative with the
necessary authority to sell the property for a living owner (or
owners) / other (further details will be required).
- Is the property being sold with vacant
possession or with one or more occupants in a sub divided
building?
For an example of a sales statement, please have a look at our
sample HIP available in the download section.
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How do I make
the HIP available to buyers?
The responsible person (i.e. the seller or the seller's estate
agent) can make available an electronic version of the HIP if this
satisfies a potential buyer who asks for a copy. Otherwise, a paper
copy must be provided.
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When should the HIP be
produced?
A Home Information Pack (HIP) should be available when you start
to market the property. At this time, reservations can usually be
taken for individual properties and the HIP is designed to help
buyers make better informed decisions.
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What do I need to do
with the Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)?
Sellers should answer all questions within the PIQ for it to be
used in the HIP which is not considered complete until the PIQ is
included. We advise that you think about gathering the information
needed to fill out the PIQ as early as possible to ensure it is
completed for when you want your property to go on the
market.
Buyers can use the PIQ to make a well informed decision on their
choice of home. It is also useful as buyers can use the information
to ask questions regarding things such as council tax, heating, car
parking arrangements etc.
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Where can I find more
information?
You will find additional guidance in our Guide to Home Information
Packs available in the download section.
Alternatively, if you go to our Links page you will find a range
of websites that offer further information regarding HIPs.
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HipShop can also
provide EPCs for your rented properties. Fore more info, click here
or contact us on 0845 055 0572 to speak to our customer service
team.