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The Home Information Pack (commonly known as the HIP) is compulsory for most homes on the market in England and Wales. The HIP must be available on the first day a property is marketed for sale.

The government's aim in introducing the HIP is to take the stress out of buying and selling a home by providing upfront key information like searches and proof of ownership. As part of the drive to reduce carbon emissions, the HIP includes an Energy Performance Certificates which, like fridges will provide A - G ratings on the energy efficiency of a home.

Burnetts does not charge a fee for preparing a HIP in the case of sellers who commit to use our conveyancing services. In this situation, sellers will only be charged at cost for the various searches and documents which ake up the HIP (approximately £250 for a property in Carlisle).

To get started with your HIP, all we need at first is your name, address and telephone number. To fully complete the HIP, we will need some extra information, but we have produced a checklist to save time.

Although we continue to have concerns about the usefulness of the HIP and its value to a buyer, everyone in the conveyancing team at Burnetts Solicitors is experienced with HIPs. Our legal expertise is an essential foundation for HIPs provision especially in cases of leasehold properties like flats or unregistered land of which there is still a great deal in Cumbria. 

At present, the mandatory contents of the Home Information Pack will include:

Freehold Properties

* An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA)
* A Property Information Questionnaire
* An index (i.e. a list of the contents of the Pack)
* A sale statement (summarising terms of sale)
* Evidence of title
* Standard searches (i.e. local authority enquiries and a drainage and water search) 

Sustainability information is also required for newly built homes

Leasehold Properties

* All the compulsory documents above
* A copy of the lease

For further information on HIPs, contact our conveyancing team on 01228 552222.