Frequently asked questions
What is a Home Information Pack?
Who can see a HIP on my house?
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
What is a Home Condition Report?
How long will it take to prepare a HIP?
Why should we order an ABD HIP?
What is a Home Information Pack?
A HIP consists of (a) a bundle of legal documents and (b) an Energy Performance Certificate which gives the property an energy rating.
The idea is that if sellers provide a pack of legal information when their property is on the market there will be more transparency and the legal process will move quicker when a buyer's offer is accepted.
Also by including an energy rating within the pack everyone will be much more focused on improving energy efficiency.
Certain documents must be included in every HIP but other documents are voluntary.
Click here to download a complete list of HIP documents (PDF format).
HIPs represent one of the biggest changes to the process of buying and selling properties for many decades. This is an important change because certain properties cannot be put on the market until the compulsory HIP documents have been ordered.
HIPs could greatly improve the home moving process by making conveyancing quicker, more transparent and less stressful and energy ratings could also make a real contribution towards limiting climate change. If HIPs can achieve all that they will be a great success.
HIPs currently apply to residential properties including both houses and flats. Click here to see the exceptions.
An ABD HIP will cost from £299. Click here to see our full price structure.
Who can see a HIP on my house?
Most HIP providers will enable the completed HIP to be viewed on their website. The regulations also state that anyone who wants a paper copy is entitled to receive one except in certain limited circumstances such as the agents or sellers not believing that the person is a serious buyer. ABD HIPs will be viewable via this website but only upon entering a user ID and password. On the creation of the HIP we will provide you and your estate agents with the user ID and password which means that you and your agents can control who is given access to the HIP.
Security and confidentiality is important to us because we believe that it is important to you.
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
An EPC is an energy rating which works on similar lines to the rating shown on the front of electrical appliances such as fridges. The EPC will provide a scale of A-G giving the current efficiency of the property and its potential rating. It will also include recommendations as to how the energy efficiency of the property can be improved.
What is a Home Condition Report?
A Home Condition Report (HCR) is not a compulsory part of a HIP. It is a survey which can be ordered by sellers in order that prospective buyers can have a better idea of the true condition of the property. Some transactions fall through at a late stage due to buyers discovering defects in a property and the government has suggested that if HCRs are made available at the start of all transactions, less property sales would fall through.
HCRs include an energy rating section so a separate EPC would not be required. However, HCRs are more expensive that EPCs.
HIPs must be paid for by the sellers.
With an ABD HIP there is a deferred payment option. You will only be required to pay for your HIP (a) on completion of the sale of your property (b) if the property comes off the market, or (c) after 6 months (whichever is the earlier). This 6 month period can be extended to 9 months if we are dealing with your conveyancing.
How long will it take to prepare a HIP?
Our aim is to produce the EPC and obtain the Land Registry documents within 2 working days of instruction. Speed of delivery is one of the advantages of an ABD HIP.
We aim to have most HIPs completed within 5 working days.
Once a HIP has been prepared there is no need for it to be updated provided that your property remains on the market.
Certain documents cannot be any older than 3 months at the time that the HIP is prepared.
If your property is taken off the market and is then put back on the market after a certain time period, an updated version of the HIP may then be required.
Why should we order an ABD HIP?
We have ensured that our HIPs will be
> Easy to order
> Delivered quickly
> Easy to understand
> Competitively priced
Awdry Bailey & Douglas offer trust, reliability and experience.
We provide HIPs even if we are not dealing with the conveyancing.
This means that if sellers wish to use another firm of solicitors for their conveyancing we will still provide the HIP.
Having said that we think that it makes a great deal of sense for one firm to provide both the HIP and the conveyancing.
A big advantage of an ABD HIP is that we offer a seamless HIP to conveyancing link which means that things will be easier, quicker and cheaper but the choice is always yours.
Certain properties do not require HIPs. The regulations relating to these can be quite complicated so if in doubt please specifically check with us.
The following is intended merely as a summary of the main categories of excluded properties:
> Non-residential properties
> Properties with tenants who will remain after completion of the sale
> Seasonal and holiday accommodation
> Mixed sales (i.e. shop/flat)
> Dual use of dwellinghouse, where the primary use is commercial
> Portfolio of sales (more than one property)
> Unsafe properties
> Properties marketed for demolition and redevelopment
© Awdry Bailey & Douglas: HIP Home Information Pack providers in Wiltshire
