Home Information Packs (HIPs)

The government introduced HIPs as an attempt to speed up the home buying and selling process by providing all the necessary legal documents at the start of the process when you put your house on the market. HIPs were phased in during 2007 and initially applied only to properties with four bedrooms or more; however they have now been extended to cover all residential properties.

It is now illegal to put your home on the market without first commissioning a Home Information Pack. A key component of the HIP is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which will rate the home’s energy efficiency, using graphs like those you might see on fridges and washing machines. We aim to complete your HIP within two to three weeks. Every HIP must the following:

  • An Energy Performance Certificate.
  • A sale statement providing basic information about the site e.g. whether the property is freehold or commonhold.
  • Local Searches
  • Evidence of Title
  • Leasehold information

The HIP does not include the Environmental or Channel Searches, which are recommended searches to be completed in all purchase transactions and at the buyer’s own expense.

HIPs contain a large amount of complex, legal information and solicitors are best placed to prepare and interpret these packs. We offer the Law Society approved Home Information Pack that is guaranteed compliant with HIP legislation and has a number of positive advantages including:

  •  Online preparation that reduces delays and ensures the pack is prepared as quickly as possible
  •  Flexibility, allowing inclusion of additional authorised items to assist you in marketing your property
  •  Linking seamlessly into the conveyancing process

Please contact our conveyancing team if you would need to prepare a HIP.