Home Information Pack (HIPs)

Let Sterling organise the HIP for you

Home Information Packs (HIPs) were introduced to enhance consumer protection. The idea was for a seller to provide detailed information on a property the moment it was put on the market for sale. Now, it is a legal requirement to have a HIP prior to marketing a residential property for sale

So what exactly is a HIP?

A HIP is a collection of documents relating to a specific property. The documents below are compulsory:

Freehold properties

Home Information Pack Index
Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA)
sustainability information (required for newly built homes)
sale statement
evidence of title
standard searches (local authority and drainage and water) Leasehold properties
all the compulsory documents above
a copy of the lease

Not all of the above are necessary in order for Sterling to market your property and we will guide you on this. Remember, once Sterling has compiled a HIP for you, it is yours to keep and you will have a piece of mind that all the required documents will be included and acceptable to solicitors.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?

All homes bought, sold or rented require an EPC. The certificate contains information on your home's energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. Ratings from ‘A' to ‘G' are carried out and these compare the current energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions with potential figures that your home could achieve. An ‘A' rating is the most efficient, while ‘G' is the least efficient and the average efficiency grade to date is 'D'. All homes are measured using the same calculations, so you can compare the energy efficiency of different properties.

Below is an example of what they look like

epc-chart

What is a Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)?

The Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) has been designed to enhance consumer protection and provide buyers with basic, useful information about a property that will help them to make an informed decision to view or potentially make an offer on a property. The questionnaire covers a variety of areas, including gas and electrical safety, risks of flooding, details of any previous structural damage and information about council tax and parking arrangements. The seller needs to complete this form and ensure that the information provided is accurate.

For more details on HIPs please contact us directly and have a chat with our sales professionals or pop in to Sterling's office. Also, please feel free to www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk for more detailed definitions on the above.