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Home Information Packs (HIPS)

Opinion is still very much divided as to whether HIPS are worthwhile but they are now compulsory for most properties and any Seller wishing to market a property will need to have a HIP in place before commencing the marketing process. A HIP also now needs to include a completed Property Information Questionnaire but this is still only a small part of the information and documentation which would normally have to be supplied to a Buyer's Solicitor to satisfy them on the paperwork. We have made arrangements to enable us to provide HIPs at a very competitive price but also to add extra vlaue to the HIP. We do this by providing additional information and documentation to the Buyer's Solicitors to convert the preliminary contract paperwork combined with the HIP into something far more useful in streamlining the conveyancing process. If you are thinking of placing your property on the market, please contact us first for more details of our value-added package, which will make your expenditure on the HIP far more worthwhile.

Hal Emmett Solicitors

Home Information Packs (HIPS) Lingo

Below are useful keywords and terminology associated with Home Information Packs (HIPS).

  • Energy Performance Certificate

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    The HIP must contain this Certificate, which involves a suitably qualified Assessor attending at the property and carrying out an inspection with a view to giving the property an energy rating. If you are thinking of putting your property on the market, you could consider some simple steps such as fitting low energy light bulbs throughout and also considering other energy-saving measures, such as loft insulation, if you are keen to obtain the best grade possible. However, it is important to take some preliminary advice before incurring any significant expense as, in our experience, most Buyers have other priorities when choosing their new home and are more concerned with the size of the accommodation, the location, local schools etc. We can put you in touch with a suitably qualified Energy Performance Assessor for preliminary advice before you place your property on the market.

  • Title Documents

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    In their present form, HIPs only have to include the very basic Title Documents consisting of a copy of the Register Entries and the Title Plan together with, if leasehold, a copy of the Lease. There can often be many other documents relevant to the legal title which are not included in the HIP.

  • Searches

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    Again, in their present form, HIPs have to include a Drainage/Water Search and also a form of Local Search. The Drainage/Water Search has to be provided by the local Drainage Authority so this should be acceptable to all Buyers’ solicitors and their Mortgage Lenders. The form of Local Search can vary between the form provided by the Local Authority itself and an alternative form known as a Personal Search. Some Buyers’ solicitors and Lenders are not happy to accept a form of Personal Search and legal advice will be required at an early stage in this connection.

  • Property Information Questionnaire

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    A HIP must now include a Property Information Questionnaire completed by the Seller. Whilst this gives some useful information to a Buyer, it is only a small part of the extensive paperwork which wuld now normally be required by a Buyer's Solicitor when considering the draft Contract papers.