The Home Information Pack

Home Information Pack branding image The Government has introduced Home Information Packs to improve the process of buying and selling a home.

News releases and announcements

Proposals to improve the quality and flow of information consumers receive through the Home Information Pack were announced in:

News release: Improving Consumer Information in the HIP - Consultation - 29 July 2008
A written statement by Caroline Flint: Implementation of HIP Regulations, published 8 May 2008

Introduction

Home Information Packs (HIPs) were introduced by the Housing Act 2004 (external link) to help improve the consumer experience of buying and selling a home in England and Wales.

All residential properties marketed for sale since 14 December 2007, must have a Home Information Pack (HIP).

The Packs:

provide prospective buyers with important information about a property early in the home buying and selling process, so they can make an informed decision about whether or not to make an offer, reducing delays and possible failed transactions later on
help homeowners to cut their fuel bills and reduce the 27 per cent of carbon emissions through an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) providing an assessment of energy efficiency

The legislative background to HIPs

All homes, marketed for sale since 14 December 2007 in England and Wales must have a Home Information Pack. The requirements are set out in the Housing Act 2004 in sections 154 - 159 and the Home Information Pack Regulations .

On 6 March 2008, the transitional insurance provisions in the HIP Regulations were extended from 1 April to 31 December 2008. This provision enables personal searchers to use insurance to cover any missing data where they have been denied access to information required to complete a Local Enquiries search.

On 8 May 2008, the first day marketing provision was extended for a further period until 31 December 2008, allowing property to be marketed without a HIP, where required documents have been commissioned and paid for, or arrangement for payment been made, and are expected to arrive in 28 days.

The temporary provision to require the 'lease' only within the HIP and to authorise other leasehold documents, was also extended until 31 December 2008.

The Statutory Instruments are available on the Office of Public Sector Information website as follows:

The Home Information Pack (Amendment) Regulations 2008 No. 572
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080572_en_1 (external link)
The Home Information Pack (Amendment)(No. 2) Regulations 2008
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20081266_en.pdf (external link)

Key facts and figures

Home Information Packs are in place and working -

over one million HIPs have been produced, giving buyers information up-front to help inform decisions and increase choice
more than one million homes now have EPCs, providing homeowners with information and recommendations to improve energy efficiency of their property

Consumers are benefiting by:

saving on average £30 on property searches costs which have fallen since the introduction of HIPs by up to £120 in some areas
saving on average £300 a household per year on fuel bills if owners follow the improvements recommended on their EPC (according to the Energy Saving Trust)

Further Information

If you are involved in the property industry further information about Home Information Packs is available at: www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk (external website).

If you are looking to sell or buy a home and need more information about HIPs please visit the Directgov website at www.direct.gov.uk/HIPs (external website).

Contact us

Home Buying and Selling Unit
Communities and Local Government
4th Floor
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU

Telephone.020 7944 4400
Email. contactus@communities.gsi.gov.uk