What is a Home Information Pack (HIP)?

Home Information Packs (HIPs) were introduced to speed the selling process of houses, they provide crucial information for prospective buyers and help to reduce carbon emissions from residential properties. Typically in the past, when a prospective buyer is looking for a house they would conduct many council searches, many of these prospective buyers will fall through and as such there is a huge carbon footprint when a home is on the market. Home Information Packs (HIPs) will prevent this waste and carbon burden by giving the prospective buyer the information they need up front at the start.

Prospective buyers will be provided with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which has energy performance information for the property and would help the prospective buyer or seller to identify problem areas that could be improved to assist in reducing carbon emissions.

The individual marketing the property is responsible for getting a Home Information Pack (HIP); this is usually a real estate agent.

If a property is sold without a Home Information Pack (HIP); this will result in a fine.

So what’s inside a Home Information Pack (HIP)? What am I getting for my money?

A home information pack (HIP) must consist of the following documents:

• Home Information Pack (HIP) Index
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Sales Statement
• Standard Searches (Government and Council)
• Title Evidence
• Additional information where applicable