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Yorkshire Property Services Home Information Packs and Domestic Energy Assessors
Yorkshire Property Services have a team of dedicated Domestic Energy Assessors, which can provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If you require an EPC contact us with your details and we will arrange for one of our team to carry out the assessment at a convenient time for you. All assessments are aimed to be carried out within 48 hours.
The Introduction of Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates Delayed Until 1st August 2007
Latest Update: 24th May 2007: Government Delays HIPS to 1st August 2007
Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificated have now been delayed for 2 months from 1st June 2007 to 1st August 2007.
The government has now withdrawn the current Home Information Pack regulations in order to clear the way for successful implementation of revised arrangements. The new proposal is:
- Home Information Packs (HIP) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) will start on the 1st August 2007 in a phased approach.
- Properties with four bedrooms or more require a HIP from 1st August 2007
- Properties with three bedrooms or less do not require a HIP. These properties will be phased in at a later date, but the date has not been given out yet.
- Until the end of 2007, four bedroom properties and larger can be marketed as soon as a HIP has been ordered. Previous a seller had to wait for a completed HIP before being able to market the property.
What are Home Information Packs?
Home Information Packs (HIPs) are designed to speed up the home buying process by making sure the seller has information about their property ready before starting to market the property for sale. This means that under Part 5 of the Housing Act 2004 a legal responsibility will fall on the person selling the property (the vendor) or their marketing agent to ensure all relevant documents are ready to present to prospective buyers on request. Full details are set out in Home Information Pack Regulations 2006 and The Home Information Pack Regulations 2006 Procedural Guidance.
Do I have to have a HIP?
From the 1st August 2007 only four bedroom or larger properties In England and Wales are required to have a HIP. These properties can be marketed without a HIP as long as a HIP has been ordered.
How do I get a HIP?
You can either create a pack yourself, which will still cost you over £250, or pay £400 to £800 to a ‘HIP Provider’ to create the pack for you. HIPS will take 2 to 4 weeks to produce.
The Third Option, and worse financial option, is to let your Estate Agent supply the Home Information Pack.
- Offer a Free HIP - Then raise the commission level to pay for it.
- Offer a Free HIP - But if you leave, they will charge you under the clause 'You will pay any reasonable marketing expenses'. Expect a bill for £500 to £1000.
- You will NOT be able to use multiple Estate Agents - You will be tied in to an agreement with them.
- You will NOT be able to sell privately, thus pay £1000s in commission to your Estate Agent.
- The Agent will own the HIP, so you will not be able to transfer it to another Agent. Limiting your marketing.
- You pay for the HIP at an inflated cost - Agents make large commission on every HIP they sell.
What is to be included in a pack?
The Pack is likely to include the following documents, most of which are currently provided later in the sale:
- An index of contents
- A sale statement (summarising terms of sale)
- Where appropriate, a New Homes Warranty
- Evidence of title (for registered properties)
- An Energy Performance Certificate
The following documents are also compulsory, but can be added to the Pack later if there are delays in obtaining them:
- Evidence of title (for unregistered properties)
- Searches (i.e. local authority enquiries and a drainage and water search)
- Where appropriate, commonhold information (including a copy of the commonhold community statement)
- Where appropriate, leasehold information (including a copy of the lease, information on service charges and insurance)
What is a Home Condition Report (HCR)?
These have been scrapped and are optional
The Home Condition Report contains information about the physical condition of the property which sellers, buyers and lenders will be able to legally rely on as an accurate report.
Home Inspectors responsible for preparing Home Condition Reports will hold a qualification at NVQ Level 4 (equivalent to degree level), and will require in-depth knowledge and practical understanding of residential building construction and defects across a range of properties as set out in the approved National Occupational Standards for Home Inspectors.
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