Hipsurvey4u

The Governments commitment to make buying and selling homes easier in the UK, have introduced a legal obligation (Part 5 of the Housing Act 2004) on home-owners or their selling agents to have a Home Information Pack available when marketing homes for sale. This is set out in more detail in the Home Information Pack Regulations 2006
Home Information Packs will provide important information to prospective purchasers at the very start of their interest in a new home, giving increased transparency on key issues and any meaningful offer to purchase a property is likely to be based on the detailed information provided in the Home Information Pack Survey.

A Home Information Pack is likely to contain the following details:-
Terms of sale
Evidence of title
Copies of any planning, listed building and building regulations consents and approvals
Copies of warranties and guarantees, for new properties
Guarantees for any work carried out on the property
Local search replies, A Home Condition Report will be provided on a voluntary basis and included as an 'authorised' document.

Additionally, for leasehold properties:-
A copy of the lease
Most recent service charge accounts and receipts
Building insurance policy details and payment receipts
Regulations made by the landlord or management company
Memorandum and articles of the landlord or management company

Are there any exclusions from the Home Information Pack regulations?
Home Information Packs will not be required on the following:-
Properties in and Northern Ireland
Private sales where the property is not offered on the open market (eg. to a family member, neighbour, or friend);
Non-residential property or where homes are in mixed use with commercial property;
Properties sold with sitting tenants and not available for owner occupation;
Portfolios of residential property;
'Right to Buy' sales by Local Authorities or other social landlords;
Homes held on a lease of less than 21 years.

What is a Home Condition Report?
The Home Condition Report element of the Home Information Pack is a completely new report format which has been developed by the Government with the help of organisations such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It will cover the general condition of the property bearing in mind its age, character and location and highlight any defects requiring action.
The Home Condition Report will be a 'mid range' survey similar in detail to the current Homebuyers Survey and Valuation Report, but excluding the valuation.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
The government is committed to comply with EU Directive 2002/91/EC which aims to promote improvements in the energy performance of buildings.
The EU directive requires an energy performance certificate for all dwellings at the time of sale.
The certificate will give prospective purchasers an easy to read guide to the likely energy costs of occupying the property in a similar way that current 'white goods' have an efficiency label.
Domestic energy consumption causes 25% of national CO2 emissions, and heating uses 90% of energy in the home. Improvement in the energy efficiency of our homes is therefore important in reducing our overall emissions.