Do I need a Home Information Pack?
Overview of Home Information Packs
Home Information Packs are mandatory on all residential properties being marketed for sale.
Interim Period
If a property was on the market before the HIP implementation day and has not yet sold the Seller does not have to provide a HIP. The implementation dates depends on the number of bedrooms that a property has and are as follows:
Number of Bedrooms: HIP required from:
4 bedrooms plus 1st August 2007
3 bedrooms 10th September 2007
0-2 bedrooms 14th December 2007
All residential properties being marketed for sale now require a Home Information Pack at the point marketing begins unless exempt (see below).
Home Information Pack Exemptions
There are some exemptions to the regulations and Sellers should seek advice from a qualified property lawyer prior to marketing to assess whether a Home Information Pack is required. The exemptions are set out briefly below:
- Residential - You do NOT need a Home Information Pack for properties not being sold with completely vacant possession
- Business Use – properties that are classed as a business under the planning regulations and that will remain a business at legal completion
- Residential property converted to business use – a dwelling that has been converted with the appropriate planning consent to business use and that will still have business use at legal completion
- Mixed Commercial/Residential Sales – properties that are a mixture of business and residential i.e. a shop with a flat above
- Dual Use – properties that are used for both business and residential purposes i.e. a Doctor’s surgery with living accommodation
- Portfolios of Properties – a number of properties that are being sold together as a portfolio
- Unsafe Properties – properties that have been deemed unsafe for habitation by the planning authority and that will remain in that condition on legal completion
- Demolition – property that has a demolition order on it and that will remain in that condition on legal completion
- Properties not being placed on the Open Market – property that is sold by landlords to existing tenants (i.e. right to buy and housing associations), property sold to friends/family etc. that has never been placed on the open market
