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Home Inspector
South East

16 Brownlow Green

Basildon
Essex
SS14 1QF
Tel: 01268 470573



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Welcome

Introduction to Home Information Packs

Who needs a Home Information Pack?

HIPs are now required for most residential sales in England and Wales. There are some exceptions, including sales of mixed use properties and portfolios of properties. Homes that were put on the market before the date on which the requirement to have a HIP applied to them will not need one either: These dates are as follows:

1 August 2007 for sales of homes with four bedrooms or more
10 September 2007 for sales of homes with three bedrooms or more
14 December 2007 for all other properties.

Residential properties not available for sale with vacant possession:
Where a residential property is not available for sale with vacant possession HIP regulations will not apply. However, this exception will not apply where two or more dwellings in a sub-divided building that was originally built as a single dwelling are being marketed as a single property and one or more is not available with vacant possession.

Seasonal and holiday accommodation:

There is no requirement to provide a HIP where there is a planning restriction which either limits the occupancy of the property to 11 months or less in a 12 month period, or limits the use of the property to holiday accommodation.

Mixed sales:

The duty to have a HIP does not apply to a ‘mixed sale’. This applies where a residential property is marketed for sale as ‘ancillary’ to (i.e. is intended to be occupied and enjoyed with) one or more other buildings or areas of land used for non-residential purposes. Examples of mixed sales include a farm house sold with agricultural land and buildings, or a property consisting of a shop on one floor and a flat above it. The exception for a mixed sale only applies if at the time of first marketing, the marketing material makes it clear to potential buyers that the seller only intends to accept an offer for the property as one lot.

Dual use of a dwelling/house:

The HIP duties do not apply to properties that have a ‘dual use’ and can be used for both residential and non-residential purposes simultaneously. An example of dual use would be a house that has been divided and where one part is used as a dentist’s surgery and the other part serves as the dentist’s home.

Portfolios of properties:

Duties do not apply where one or more residential properties are marketed for sale together if the seller does not intend to accept a sale in isolation from the others, and it is clear from marketing materials that offers will only be accepted for the complete portfolio.

Unsafe properties:

A HIP is not required when marketing an unoccupied property that is unsafe, posing a serious risk to the health and safety of potential occupants and visitors, and this is made clear in the marketing material.

Properties due to be demolished:

A Home Information Pack is not required when marketing a property intended for demolition and redevelopment. This applies where the relevant planning permission has been obtained.

Park homes:

Park homes are not treated as ‘dwelling houses’ under the terms of housing legislation and therefore fall outside the scope of the HIP regulations.

New Builds:

Although sales of homes built to the most recent Building Regulations (Regulation 17C, Part L, 2006) are currently exempt from the need to have a HIP, this is set to change later in 2008. For more detailed information on new builds, click here.

NOTE: The above is only intended to be an indicative list of the circumstances under which HIP regulations do not apply. For detailed information on exceptions the above should be read in conjunction with:

Home Information Pack Regulations 2007 Procedural Guidance
Home Information Pack Guidance for Enforcement Officers

The Home Information Pack

The Home Information Pack is a set of documents providing important information about a property such as searches, copies of the deeds and information regarding its energy efficiency.
Currently, much of this essential information only comes to light when an offer has been made and accepted. In the meantime, buyers are negotiating in the dark and are often wasting money on legal fees and searches. Providing this information up front, at the time of marketing a property, will make the home buying and selling process more efficient and transparent.

The benefits Home Information Packs bring to Industry

•Improving the process of buying and selling by reducing the number of transaction failures and reducing the time taken between offer and acceptance;

•Improving the condition and sustainability of housing stock - Making a positive contribution to the condition and sustainability of the housing stock - by ensuring home buyers and sellers are aware of the true condition of the property;

•A step on the ladder for new generations of home owners - through more affordable entry costs and simpler process for first time buyers;

•Training for the qualification in Home Inspection, for those wishing to add the qualification to their existing portfolio and for those looking to train in a completely new career;

•Joined up processes through industry forging links to provide a seamless service to consumers.[1]

Click here to view frequently asked questions

 

 

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Copyright 2007- Home Inspector South East- All Rights Reserved
1. www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk
Reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use Licence.

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