HIPs - Home Information Packs

HIPs - Home Information Packs image

All residential Properties marketed since 14th December 2007 must have a Home Information Pack (Hip). Up until now the Hip has mainly comprised of:

  1. An energy efficiency certificate
  2. Copies of the title
  3. A local search
  4. A drainage/water search.

It is an offence to market a property without a HIP. If marketing the property through an Estate Agent the agent has had to ensure a Hip has been commissioned.

The government is now making further changes to the HIP procedure. As from 6th April 2009 the Hip will have to include a Property Information Questionnaire. From 1st January, for Leasehold properties, the HIP must include the lease.

From 5th April 2009 it appears likely that the Hip will no longer be able to include a personal search backed up by search insurance (which has been the norm). It is believed this change is due to the doubtful quality of some of the personal searches included in many HIPS.

In addition the HIP must be available when the property is first marketed. This is a substantial change. Prior to that date the HIP only has to be commissioned at the date of first marketing. From 5th April 2009 it will have to be completed by then. Despite the governments declared intention that the HIP would speed up the conveyancing process this change will clearly slow it down from a Seller’s point of view as no marketing can take place during the period the HIP is prepared.

It will therefore be important that the HIP is prepared quickly and efficiently.

The documents comprising the HIP (apart from the energy efficiency certificate) are documents that solicitors have always obtained during the course of a conveyancing transaction. The new requirement to include a Property Information Questionnaire makes it particularly important that your solicitor is consulted as it includes representations made by the Seller on which there could be a liability if misrepresentations are made.

At Morrisons we are able to prepare a Hip on your behalf as competitive prices. This offers the reassurance of using a well established firm of solicitors whose team has many years property experience.

At Morrisons we can:

  • Provide the pack both in electronic and paper form

The advantages of the Morrisons HIP are:

  1. Advice can be given on the Property Information Questionnaire by a legally qualified expert.
  2. The pack can be reviewed by a Lawyer to anticipate any problems
  3. The pack will be easily available even if you change agents
  4. The pack can be sent out immediately with the contract documentation. Currently there can be delays whilst the lawyers try to find out which agent has the pack and there are often problems downloading it as many agents only provide a web address for it.
  5. Any personal local search included in the pack will be carried out by a reputable company. Currently there are local search providers who are providing searches of doubtful quality.
  6. We can provide advice of choice of estate agents for properties in the Redhill, Wimbledon and Woking area.