Home Information Packs are now compulsory for all properties.   It is against the law to put your home on the market without a Home Information Pack (HIP).

How soon can I start marketing my Property?

Your estate agent will be able to start marketing your property as soon as the pack is ready, save for the return of the searches.  At Middleton & Upsall LLP we commence preparation of the pack as soon as we have received your instructions and payment.  We estimate that we will be able to give your estate agent the go ahead to market your Property within 5 working days of receipt of your completed Instruction form, Property Information Questionnaire and Payment provided that you can allow early access to the Energy Assessor.

Why should you choose Middleton & Upsall to provide your Hip?

You will not be dealing with a large organisation where you cannot speak to the person dealing with the preparation of the pack but with a firm where we have a small dedicated team dealing with the preparation of HIPs who can assist you with any queries that you have and give you advice at the same time regarding your sale.

HIP’s contain a large amount of complex, legal information and are being offered by many different organisations.  Solicitors are best placed to prepare and interpret these packs and of course you will need to instruct a solicitor in relation to your sale in any event, so why instruct two parties to do the job when one will suffice! 

We are confident that our HIP is the right solution for your next sale:

• It is guaranteed compliant with HIP legislation.
• It is flexible, allowing the inclusion of additional authorised items to assist you in marketing your property.
• It seamlessly links into the conveyancing process.
• It is competitively priced at £299 for the basic pack.
• We comply with the HIP Code.
• The Hip is prepared in-house and so we retain control over its preparation.

Contact Ingrid Hindle or Alison May on 01985 214444 or email us atihindle@mulaw.co.uk as soon as you make the decision to sell your property so that we can prepare the documentation in readiness for marketing.

Cost and Timescale

When you also ask us to act on your sale, we will prepare the Home Information Pack for the sum of £299.  We commence preparation of the report on the date that we receive your cheque and commission the searches immediately.  We then fax or e-mail your Estate Agents with a confirmation of order.  Marketing can commence once the Hip is complete save for the return of the searches.  This is usually within 5 working days but can be less where the matter is urgent and you are able to return the Instruction Form, Property Information Questionnaire and allow access for the Energy Assessor promptly.   There is a small additional charge for the cost of preparation where we prepare the pack but do not act on the sale.

How Long does the Pack Last?

You do not have to renew the HIP if the Property remains on the market.  If the searches go out of date after 6 months, then it is the Buyer’s responsibility to renew them.  

What if I take the Property off the market?

Part 1 of the Home Information Pack Regulations states at regulation 3(3) that where a property is taken off the market and then remarketed within one year, the date of the orginal first point of marketing does not change ie Packs do not need to be renewed if marketing stops and restarts with a year of first being put on the market.

The HIP Code

We comply with the HIP code which provides protection for all those who rely on the information included in the HIP.  The code sets out minimum standards which have to be met.  Not every pack will comply with this 'gold standard'.

What does a HIP contain?

The required documents that must be included in each HIP are:

• An index
• A Property Information Questionnaire
• An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• A sale statement (summarising the terms of the sale)
• Evidence of title
• Standard searches (eg local authority enquiries and a drainage and water search)
• If the property is leasehold a copy of the lease..
• For new homes a New Homes Warranty

Other authorised documents can also be included, such as additional leasehold information, guarantees and warranties or other searches to make the pack a more useful document to your Buyer’s Solicitor and to cut down on the amount of additional queries that are raised during the selling process.  A Home Condition Report can also be included on a voluntary basis although we would not reccommend including this.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate ?

This is a report that rates the energy efficiency of your property and gives the Buyer some idea of how much the property will cost to run.  We have a number of energy assessors that we use.  They are known personally to us and are not from a faceless panel.  They will contact you by telephone to make an appointment.  It will be helpful if you can let them see copies of any planning documents that you have in your possession and also the boiler handbook.

The report will also give recommendations as to how you might improve the energy efficiency of your property.

Do I need a Home Condition Report?

We do not advise you to spend additional funds on such a report.  At present they are not recognised as sufficient to act as a mortgage valuation report which means that a Buyer obtaining a mortgage will still need to have a mortgage valuation carried out and Buyers are still reluctant to rely on a survey prepared by the Seller.

What if I am renting out my residential or selling or letting commercial Property?

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC's) are now required on residential rental properties and on most commercial buildings when they are sold or let. We can arrange for an EPC to be produced on your rental property for £75.00 and on commercial properties from £150.00  Please contact us if you require a further information.

To download a copy of our HIP Instruction form please click here and complete this questionnaire or complete the form in the “Contact us” section.

Additional Links

www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk
www.avonsideenergy.co.uk
www.propertycodes.org.uk