HOME INFORMATION PACKS

Before a property can be marketed for sale in this country, it is now a requirement (pursuant to the Home Information Pack (No. 2) Regulation 2007) that a Home Information Pack, or “HIPs” pack, is prepared against the property.

Such pack is required to contain a number of documents and searches as follows:

1. The Sale Statement 

This provides a brief summary of matters, such as who is selling the property and the legal nature of the title being sold.

2. Office Copy Entries and filed plan

These are details of the entries made at HM Land Registry in respect of the subject property, including details of proprietorship and whether the property is subject to restrictive covenants affecting day to day use. The official copy entries should also contain the Land Registry plan identifying the extent and position of the boundaries for the property.

3. Local Land Charges Search

This search result deals with enquiries made of the local authority and with matters contained in the various registers held by them. These deal with, for example, planning history for the subject property, whether the adjoining road is maintained at the public expense and whether there are any Compulsory Purchase Orders.

4. Local Drainage and Water Enquiries Search

This search details enquiries made of the relevant utility company relating to matters, such as whether there are public sewers situated within the boundaries of the property.

5. Energy Performance Certificate

This certificate details the energy efficiency of the subject property and recommendations in respect of improving such efficiency.

The HIP provider or the seller’s solicitor may choose to provide more to a prospective buyer and, in any event, it is the buyer’s prerogative to raise additional enquiries of a seller or their solicitors before deciding to proceed.

This article was produced and supplied by Mr Matthew Conroy. LLB 

If you have you have any questions regarding the above article please e-mail Mr Matthew Conroy. E-mail Solicitor

Also see:

The buyer’s conveyancing transaction process
The sellers’ conveyancing transaction process
Solicitor fees

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