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Home Information Packs

Get to grip with HIPs!

What is a HIP?	What does a HIP contain?	What is an EPC?
Additional information

What is a HIP?

A HIP is a Home Information Pack

As of December 14th 2007 all home sellers in England and Wales are legally required to produce a HIP when marketing a property for sale.

The HIP was devised by the Government in order to provide important information upfront, enabling buyers to make informed decisions; to reduce the number of sales falling through and to speed up the buying/selling process.

What does a HIP contain?

The compulsory documents include a Home Information Pack Index listing the documents contained in the Pack.

1. Index
List of pack contents

2. Sales statement
A summary of the terms of sale

3. Evidence of Title
Title deeds from the Land Registry

4. Standard searches
Local Authority enquiries and a drainage and water search

5. Tenure documents
Commonhold or leasehold (as appropriate) documentation

6. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
A rating of the overall energy efficiency of the property

7. Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
Form completed by the vendor to provide buyers with basic, useful information about the property

What is an EPC?

A HIP is a Home Information Pack

An Energy Performance Certificate will show you the official energy efficiency rating of your property.

The certificate provides you with a rating for the building, showing its energy efficiency and its environmental impact on a scale from A-G (where A is the most efficient and G the least efficient), in graphical format. It also contains recommended ways to improve the building's energy performance.