From December 2007 every home for sale must have a valid Home Information Pack (HIP). HIP’s provide key information required by buyers and sellers at the very start of the home-buying process. The aim of a HIP is to make transactions more efficient and less likely to fall through between the offer and exchange.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s). If you are a landlord, you’ll need to make an EPC available to prospective tenants the first time you let a home after 1 October 2008. An EPC is only required for a property which is self-contained, and is valid for 10 years.
An EPC isn’t required when a tenant rents a room and shares facilities.
Purchase a HIP / EPC Through Us
You can purchase either a HIP or EPC direct through us – for a fraction of the price of other suppliers. We charge as low as £195 +VAT (typical Freehold) and as low as £65 for a typical EPC - that’s £35 cheaper than most standard suppliers!
These documents must be included in a Home Information Pack:
Home Information Pack index
Energy Performance Certificate
Sale Statement
Standard Searches
Evidence of title
Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate.
Energy Performance Certificate
Energy Performance Certificates tell you how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes – which should have the lowest bills – are in band A.
The Certificate also tells you on a scale of A-G, about the impact the home has on the environment. The average property in the UK is in bands B-E for both ratings. The certificate includes recommendations on ways to improve the home’s energy efficiency to save you money and help the environment.
Most sellers of newly built homes will have to provide a predicted assessment of the energy efficiency of the property, but a full Energy Performance Certificate should be provided to the buyer when the home is completed.
Standard Searches
The Home Information Pack must also include:
The local land charges register relating to the property being sold. Once a search is completed, which can be carried out by a personal search company or a local authority, you will receive an official search certificate.
Other records held by the local authority on matters of interest to buyers, such as planning decisions and road building proposals. These matters are referred to as local enquiries in the Home Information Pack regulations.
The provision of drainage and water services to the property.
Evidence of Title
These documents prove that the seller owns the property and therefore has the right to sell it. Where the property being sold is registered, certain documents that are available on request from the Land Registry must be included in the pack. These provide an up-to-date official record of who owns the land, and consist of:
Official copies of the individual register (made up of a property register, proprietorship register and, typically, a charges register).
Town or Post Code
Energy Performance Certificates tell you how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes – which should have the lowest bills – are in band A.
