close up of gas hob fire
open quoteThis is an important opportunity to improve the buying and selling process for consumers. We want to promote a greener housing market for consumers and Energy Performance Certificates can play a key part in this. By providing more information on the energy efficiency of homes, we can help consumers make more informed choices about the homes they buy and their impact on climate change.close quote

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly

Home Information Pack Overview

The Home Information Pack (HIP) contains important information that buyers and sellers need to know. From 1 June 2007, anyone marketing a property, or their representative, will be legally required to have a Home Information Pack and make it available to potential buyers of the property.

Under the present home buying process a lot of the information needed about a property, only becomes available after an offer has been made and accepted. This means that any issues with the property may only come to light several weeks later, by which time significant costs and fees have been incurred by both buyers and sellers.

Research shows that around 28% of offers which are accepted fail to reach completion. Of these, 43% fail because of survey or valuation findings.

By providing Home Information Packs (HIP) to potential buyers, it is expected that the buying/selling process will improve. Key information will be provided to potential buyers in an understandable and user-friendly format at the start of the process enabling them to be better prepared before they make decisions and negotiate terms. This should reduce frustration and stress as well as cutting wasted costs through the reduction of the high rates of failed transactions and speeding up the time from offer to completion.

For sellers, providing a HIP upfront should reduce the likelihood of any nasty surprises in the selling process that could delay the sale, as buyers will be able to make more informed decisions about purchasing their home.

For buyers, the HIP provides essential information about properties they are considering buying, free of charge.

What does a Home Information Pack (HIP) Contain?

It contains two sets of documents

  • Compulsory documents ('Required') - for example, the evidence of title that proves it's yours to sell.
  • Optional documents ('Authorised') - such as the Home Condition Report which gives buyers a clear idea of what work, if any, needs to be done to the property.

Compulsory Items ('Required')

The following compulsory documents must be included in a Home Information Pack:

  • Index
  • Sales Statement
  • Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
  • Land Registry Title & Plan (up-to-date official record of the land owner)
  • Copy Of New Homes Warranty (Only applies for new builds or converted properties)
  • Local Authority Searches
  • Drainage & Water Searches
  • Additional Documents for Leasehold Properties - Including management & lease information.

Optional Documents ('Authorised')

Although the following authorised documents and information do not have to be provided in the HIP’s, we strongly advise that their inclusion where they are relevant to the property and/or its sale are likely to be of interest and benefit to potential buyers.

We highly recommend that the fixtures and fittings form and the home use forms are included.

  • Home Condition Report - (NOT MANDATORY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE) an objective report on the condition of the property prepared by a Home Inspector; it will cover the general condition of the property taking into account the age, character and location.
  • Information Identifying the Property - Maps, plans or drawings.
  • Warranties and Guarantees - providing evidence of work undertaken to remedy defects highlighted in the Home Condition Report
  • Warranties, Insurance Polices or Guarantees - For other properties outside the described that may be of interest to the purchaser.
  • Additional Searches - Environmental searches, mining searches, flood risk search or searches relating to telecommunications or transport.
  • Home Use Form
  • Home Contents Form

If certain documents (i.e. searches, evidence of title for unregistered home, leasehold and common hold information) cannot be obtained in time, sellers can start marketing with a HIP that includes an index, sale statement, evidence of title and an Energy Performance Certificate only.

However, the seller must be able to show that the missing items have been commissioned, and are expected to arrive as soon as practicable, certainly no later than 28 days of the property being put on the market.

The Housing Act (2004) provides the legislation behind the Home Information Pack (HIP), which is one vehicle for the EPC.