A HIP is an amalgamation of key documents gathered together in preparation for the sale of a property and is now compulsory for all homes. Miles & Barr can take care of organising your HIP for you, keeping it all in-house and giving us access to the documents we need to be able to sell your home, whilst still being competitively priced.
Compulsory documents consist of:
- Index of contents
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- Sale Statement
- Standard Searches – e.g. local land charges register, local enquiries, drainage and water searches
- Evidence of Title (for registered and unregistered properties)
- Lease (for leasehold properties only)
Home Information Pack Index
A list of the documents contained in the Pack. The Index provides a checklist for sellers, buyers, estate agents and enforcement authorities. Where a document that must be included in the Pack is unavailable, the Index must say so, give the reason it is missing, and indicate what steps are being taken to obtain it. Where documents are added to or removed from the Pack at a later stage, the Index should be revised accordingly.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Tell you how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes - which should have the lowest fuel bills - are in band A.
- The Certificate also tells you, on a scale of A-G, about the impact the home has on the environment. Better-rated homes should have less impact through carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
- The average property in the UK is in bands D-E for both ratings. The Certificate includes recommendations on ways to improve the home's energy efficiency to save you money and help the environment.
- Sellers of newly built homes will have to provide a predicted assessment of the energy efficiency of the property, but a full Energy Performance Certificate should be provided to the buyer when the home is completed.
Sale Statement
should provide some basic information about the property, including:
- The address of the property being sold.
- Whether the property is freehold, leasehold or commonhold.
- Whether the property is registered or unregistered.
- Whether or not the property is being sold with vacant possession.
Standard Searches
The local land charges register relating to the property being sold. If the search is carried out by the local authority, an official search certificate will be provided. Alternatively a personal search company can be used. Other records held by the local authority on matters of interest to buyers, such as planning decisions and road building proposals. These are referred to as local enquiries in the Home Information Pack regulations. A local authority or a personal search company can be used.
The provision of drainage and water services to the property. The local water company or a personal search company can be used (however, the search must comply with the HIP Regulations).
Evidence of Title
these documents prove that the seller owns the property and therefore has the right to sell it. Where the property being sold is registered, certain documents that are available on request from the Land Registry must be included in the Pack. These provide an up-to-date official record of who owns the land, and consist of:
- Official copies of the individual register (made up of a property register, proprietorship register and, typically, a charges register)
- An official copy of the title plan
Optional items may also be included, these are:
- Home Condition Report
- Legal Summary
- Home use/contents form
- Other documents
Home Condition Report
contains information about the physical condition of a property, which sellers, buyers and lenders will be able to rely on legally as an accurate report.
Arranging Your HIP
Miles & Barr can take care of organising your HIP for you, keeping it all in-house and giving us access to the documents we need to be able to sell your home, whilst still being competitively priced. Contact your nearest M&B office for more information on our HIP prices or for us to arrange your HIP.
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