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The Home
Information Pack contains important information that buyers* and sellers need to
know. For more information on the BACKGROUND and
BENEFITS of the HIP please click on the links
1¡¦.Home
Information Pack Index
2¡¦.Energy
Performance Certificate
3¡¦.Sale
Statement
4¡¦.Standard
Searches
5¡¦.Evidence
of Title
6¡¦.Leasehold and commonhold properties
Full
details below
1¡¦.Home Information
Pack Index
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.
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2¡¦.Energy
Performance Certificate
Energy
Performance Certificates 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.
3¡¦.Sale Statement
The
sale statement should provide some basic information about the site, including:
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The address of the property being
sold |
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Whether the property is freehold,
leasehold or commonhold |
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Whether the property is registered
or unregistered |
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Whether or not the property is being
sold with vacant possession |
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4¡¦.Standard
Searches
The
Home Information Pack must include:
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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. |
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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. |
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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).
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5¡¦.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:
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Official
copies of the individual register (made up of a property register,
proprietorship register and, typically, a charges register)
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An
official copy of the title plan |
In the case
of the sale of a commonhold interest, official copies of the register and title
plan should be produced for both the unit and common parts.
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6¡¦.Leasehold and
commonhold properties
Most of the
documents that must be included in the Home Information Pack are applicable to
all transactions, but some are needed only for leasehold and commonhold sales.
The
required leasehold documents are:
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A copy of
the lease |
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Any
regulations or rules that apply to the property that aren't mentioned in the
lease and any proposed amendments to same |
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Statements or summaries of service charges covering the previous 36 months
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Where
appropriate, the most recent requests for payment of service charges, ground
rent, insurance against damage for the building in which the property is
situated, and insurance in respect of personal injury caused by or within the
building during the 12-month period before marketing began |
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The name
and address of the current or proposed lessor, and details of any managing
agent that has been appointed or proposed by the lessor to manage the property
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A summary
of any works being undertaken or proposed that will affect the property or the
building in which it's situated. |
The
required commonhold documents are:
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An
official copy of the individual register and title plan for the common parts.
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An
official copy of the commonhold community statement. |
Where they
are reasonably obtainable, or sellers can reasonably be expected to be aware of
them, the following documents and information are also required:
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Copies of
any regulations or rules not described in the commonhold community statement
and any amendments proposed to those regulations or to the commonhold
community statement
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Copies of
any requests for payments made in the previous 12 months in respect of
commonhold assessment, reserve fund levy and insurance (if not covered by a
request for commonhold assessment) |
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The name
and address of any managing agent or other person appointed or proposed to be
appointed by the commonhold association to manage the commonhold
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A summary
of current or proposed works affecting the commonhold. |
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* Potential buyers should usually be entitled to a copy of the Pack if they want
it and are prepared to pay a reasonable fee for the copying costs, but the
seller or estate agent can turn down requests without incurring a penalty where
it is believed that:
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The
person could not afford the property in question. The seller might, for
example, want to exclude people who cannot demonstrate that they have arranged
an 'in principle' mortgage |
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The
person making the request is not really interested in buying the property –
for example, a journalist posing as a buyer to gain access to the Pack
relating to a celebrity's home |
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The
potential buyer is not a person to whom the seller would wish to sell the
property. The current position is that sellers can refuse to sell to a
particular person, and do not have to give a reason. It should be emphasised,
however, that this does not affect anyone's rights under legislation governing
discrimination on the grounds of race, sex or disability. |
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