Rugby HIP FAQ's for home infromation pack providers

Rugby HIP

Frequently Asked Questions

When Do I need have to have a HIP?

Any properties marketed for sale from 14 December 2007 in England and Wales will need a Home Information Pack (HIP), which includes a home energy rating. The Pack includes an Energy Performance Certificate, containing information on how to cut carbon emissions and fuel bills. Also included are documents such as a sale statement, searches and evidence of title. At this time, any property that was already on the market on the relevant start date (i.e. 1 August 2007 for sales of homes with four or more bedrooms; 10 September 2007 for those with three or more bedrooms and 14 December for all properties) does not need to have a HIP.I'm selling my house privately - do I need a Home Information Pack?If you are marketing your property, even if it's just by putting a 'for sale' sign in the window, you need a Pack. Sales where no marketing takes place (e.g. to a member of the family) won't need a Pack.

Who compiles HIPs?

Sellers of the property can hire estate agents, solicitors, separate pack providers, or alternatively they can do it themselves.

What goes in a HIP?

A HIP includes documents that are required when homes are bought and sold. Some documents are mandatory and others optional. The mandatory documents are: An index (ie a list of the contents of the HIP), A sale statement (summarising the terms of sale), Evidence of title, Standard searches (ie local authority enquiries and a drainage and water search), An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Common hold information (where suitable), A copy of the lease (where suitable). Documents that are optional include: A Home Condition Report (HCR), Additional leasehold information, Guarantees and warranties, other searches relevant to the particular area.

At what stage can marketing begin?

Until 31 May 2008, a property can be put on the market as soon as necessary documents in the Pack have been ordered. It will not be essential to wait until the documents have been received. On the other hand, you are obliged to obtain the documents as soon as possible and you must provide a Pack for potential buyers as soon as the Energy Performance Certificate has been received. From 1 June 2008 a seller or their agent will have to obtain the Energy Performance Certificate and other key documents before they put their home on the market, unless there are incomparable situations or delays in getting hold of searches or leasehold documents.

Are HIPs required across the UK?

The answer is NO – they are only required in England and Wales

Who pays for the Pack?

The seller is responsible for the cost of a Home Information Pack. The cost of the Pack is down to the market, but sellers may be able to defer costs until late in the sale.

How long does it take?

The typical timing of creating a full HIP Pack can be anything from 3-10 working days all depending on which area you are in and what kind of searches you need.

When will sellers not need a HIP?

Packs are not required for properties that are: unsafe and not fit for human occupation, due to be demolished, sold without vacant possession, non-residential, used as holiday or seasonal accommodation, mixed use (e.g. a shop and flat above) and being sold as one lot, dual use (e.g. a property that can be used for residential and non-residential purposes at the same time such as a guesthouse), part of a private sale (where the property is not marketed), part of the sale of a property portfolio

What happens if I take my property off the market?

If a seller takes a property off the market and then puts it back on, the same Pack can be used, provided remarketing starts within a year of the dated documents within the HIP.

How can I get an Energy Performance Certificate?

An Energy Performance Certificate can be commissioned as a standalone document or, more commonly, as part of a Home Information Pack. Find out more click here.

How much will the HIP cost?

The cost of a Pack will be set by the market and not by Government, although expect the average cost to be around £300-£400, including the Energy Performance Certificate. It will also depend on which optional documents the seller decides to include.But we however can save you anything from £100-150 or even more dependant upon which searches you need from us.

How long will the HIP be valid?

The Evidence of title and the searches cannot be over three months old when a property is first marketed. Energy Performance Certificates cannot be more than a year old. For the latest information on the validity of Energy Performance Certificates visit: www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/industry.

What if the property is common hold?

If your property is common hold, you need to include official copies of the individual register and title plan relating to the common parts and the common hold community statement referred to in the register. Any regulations made for the purpose of managing the common hold and any proposed changes to them should also be included along with the most recent requests for financial contributions in respect of the property. Details of the managing agent and any other person responsible for managing the common hold and details of any proposed works to the property or the common parts should also be included.

HIP Insurance/Legals

The HIP we provide is compliant in every way to the HIP 2007 regulations regarding insurance cover.The CON29DW (water report) is official, direct from water company.The Title Plan and Title Register are official and direct from Land Registry.The Personal Search is accompanied by its own Search Report Indemnity Policy (SRIP) carrying a unique policy number. Key facts and policy details are contained at the back of every personal local authority search we supply to you. This policy will protect all parties (vendor, buyer or lender) from material loss due to an error or omission within the search results.Providers of the Local Searches carry at least £2,000,000 of PI Cover, and are Members of the PCCB (a requirement by Law for inclusion of searches within a HIP) The same goes for the EPC and the DEA's who carry them out. The DEA's have PI cover and each EPC they produce is insured for accuracy by their accreditation provider where the results are logged.The HIP does not require additional insurance as the components do. The CLG (Communities of Local Government) confirm that the relevant parties must be protected from material loss due to inaccuracies or omissions within the private searches (ie Local Search or EPC).If you know a way of providing a HIP that is cheaper or simpler please let us know.