Home Information Packs
a HIP which you
can view online"
Karen Stewart, Partner
Home Information Packs contain all the documents needed to help complete the legal process of buying and selling a property:
- Property Information Questionnaire
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- Sale Statement
- evidence of seller's title
- local authority search records
- drainage and water search records
- a copy of the lease if the property is leasehold
Packs can also contain additional information that although not mandatory can prove extremely useful.
See our free information guide with important Home Information Packs for more details about the background to the HIP scheme and how the above documents can help influence the sale of a property.
The Government introduced the scheme to help speed up the sale process and ensure as much information was available to potential purchasers as early as possible in the sale process to reduce abortive sales.
When do you need Home Information Packs?
You need to have a HIP completed as soon as you decide to place your property on the market. It is a civil offence not to have a HIP in place and could result in a fine for you and the estate agent.
Who can I get to produce a Home Information Pack?
Since the introduction of the scheme a variety of firms now offer HIPs, ranging from independent firms, surveyors, estate agents and solicitors.
Are all Home Information Packs the same?
Unfortunately not. Under the new legislation anyone can set up a company producing HIPs, resulting in wide variations in pricing and quality.
As a result, many solicitors and estate agents will not accept or rely on some Home Information Packs if they're concerned about the quality. This undermines the whole purpose of having a HIP and can result in sellers having to pay additional fees to have new HIP reports created by a recognised professional, or having their HIP report checked by a solicitor on behalf of the estate agent.
In short, you get what you pay for, and money you think you save initially ends up being a false economy when you finally find a buyer.
Why use Access Legal from Shoosmiths?
We're solicitors. The documents included in a HIP report are documents we've been using for many years.
Our HIP reports are recognised and accepted by other solicitors, so you won't have to pay twice.
We offer the benefit of having a HIP report produced by a recognised expert, but due to the economies of scale we can provide this to sellers at an affordable price, whilst also offering peace of mind and efficiency.
How much will it cost?
The cost of a HIP will depend on the location of the property concerned, but is typically around £300. It costs slightly more for a leasehold HIP, as a copy of the lease is also required.
We'd be pleased to provide you with a quote for your property.
What do I do next?
It's simple. Call us now or drop us an email and we'll help get you moving!
Still got questions?
See our Frequently Asked Questions section.
- If I instruct more than one estate agent to sell my property do I need more than one HIP report?
- Can I get an estate agent to value my property before I need to get a HIP report?
- How long does it take to arrange a HIP report?
- How long does a HIP report remain valid?
- Do I need a HIP report to sell any property?
- I'm buying a house and the seller has given me their HIP report. How do I know if it's a good quality report?
- Are HIP reports regulated?
