HIPs

Philip Bratt Home Inspector

13, Tatton Drive, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 1DR Tel: 01270 753710 or Mobile: 0774 775 2000

HOME INFORMATION PACKS

The Home Information Pack (HIP) aims to reduce the stress of buying and selling by providing key documents at the time a property is put on the market. Under the old system, such information was not usually made available until an offer had been negotiated. This often led to sales being renegotiated or even collapsing altogether.

The HIP includes various authorised documents. Some such as the Energy Performance Certificate are compulsory and others like the Home Condition Report are optional.

The compulsory documents are:

	An index (a list of the contents of the Pack)
	An Energy Performance Certificate
	A sale statement (summarising the terms of sale)
	Evidence of title
	Standard searches (e.g. local authority enquiries and a water company search)
	Where appropriate, common or leasehold information

Optional documents include:

	A Home Condition Report
	A legal summary
	Guarantees and warranties
	Other searches relevant to the particular area (e.g. Environmental report)
	A Home Use Form
	A Home Contents Form and additional relevant information

Unless a property is exempt from the requirement, it is illegal to market a property for sale without a Home Information Pack. Trading Standards are responsible for enforcement and they can level a fine of up to £200 per day for non-compliance.

In addition, estate agents are now required for the first time to belong to an approved consumer redress scheme, which should mean greater peace of mind and a better standard of service for buyers and sellers.

HIPs are normally compiled by estate agents, solicitors and specialist HIP providers. However, sellers have the option to compile a HIP themselves. I generally believe compiling the HIP is best left to a specialist provider, however I can assist individuals in compiling their own, with my standard or 24 hour service for those that need to market their home as quickly as possible.

Please note Philip Bratt is available to: provide Home Condition Reports HCR, Home Surveys as a home surveyor in Cheshire and Home Condition Reports HCR in North Staffordshire for addition to your Home Information Pack HIP or HIPs. Home Condition Reports HCR are not a compulsory part of the Home information Pack HIP or HIPs. Philip Bratt home inspector regularly performs house surveys on homes in Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Weaverham, Peover, Nantwich, Crewe, Willaston, Northwich, HIPs survey Sandbach. Hips survey Cheshire, Hips survey Crewe, Hips survey Staffordshire, Hips survey Stoke.

As well as Home Condition Reports HCR or HCRs we can also provide Energy Performance Certificates EPC or EPCs for your Home Information Pack HIP or HIPs. The Energy Performance Certificates EPC or EPCs which we can supply in Cheshire and North Staffordshire are a compulsory component of the Home information Pack HIP or HIPs unlike the Home Condition Report or HCR which is voluntary.