Home Information Packs

Home Information Packs (HIPs) are now a legal requirement for all properties and it is the responsibility of the seller to provide the HIP. A HouseWeb HIP costs only £279 +VAT. You can either order a HIP by itself or as part of your commission-free HouseWeb Property Package. Click here to order a HIP or WHAT'S IN MY HIP PACK? The HIP pack is made up of a variety of documents: Index Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Evidence of Ownership Official Copies of documents referred to on the register of the property Sale Statement Local Authority Search Drainage and Water Search Relevant Leasehold / Commonhold Information (if applicable) New Home Warranty (if applicable) DOWNLOAD HOUSEWEB'S FREE GUIDE TO HIPs You will receive your HouseWeb Home Information Pack in PDF format sent straight to your email address as soon as it is complete. You can also order just an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for £80+VAT here. Quick Guide to HIPs implementation* No of Bedrooms Date Action When can I start marketing my property? All Homes If marketed on or after 14th Dec 2007 You must order a HIP Once you have ordered your HIP All Homes If marketed on or after 31st December 2008 You must order a HIP Once you have ordered and received your HIP 3 Bedrooms If marketed continuously before 10th Sept 2007 No HIP required.EPC required from 1st Oct 08   4 Bedrooms + If marketed continuously before 1st Aug 2007 No HIP required. EPC required from 1st Oct 08   *Subject to change at any time by the Government. What is a HIP? The government have introduced HIPs in an attempt to improve the process of buying and selling property in England and Wales and to improve the environment through energy awareness. A Home Information Pack includes essential information about a property which was previously not made available to the buyer until later in the process. It also includes an Energy Performance Certificate, rating each property, and highlighting ways to save energy. By making this information available upfront, the intention is to speed up the process of buying and selling property. A Home Condition Report (similar to a survey) can be included as an optional extra, as can guarantees and warranties.  Are there any properties that don't need a HIP? From 1st August 2008 all properties in England & Wales with 4 or more bedrooms need a HIP, 3 bedrooms since 10th September 2008 and all other properties since the 14th December 2007. There are also a number of cases where a HIP is not required at all. Properties where there is no marketing (e.g. sale to member of the family) Non-residential properties Seasonal and holiday accommodation Mixed sales (e.g. shop with flat) Right to buy sales Sales of portfolios of properties Properties not being sold with completely vacant possession Unsafe properties and properties to be demolished. How long will it take? Once your HIP is ordered your property can go live on the market (i.e. you will not have to wait for the HIP to be complete). It will typically take 7 working days to prepare, dependent on how quickly the Energy Assessor can gain access to your property. The HIP will be made available to you as a PDF file once it is complete so you can then send it to serious prospective buyers. You will find more information on the Government website: http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk

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