From 14th December 2007 every Home Owner wishing to market their property for sale in England and Wales must have first commissioned a Home Information Pack (HIP). When the HIP has been commissioned from a HIP supplier the property can then be advertised for sale either privately or through Estate Agents or other commercial outlets.

After 1st June 2008 the HIP itself must be available for a Buyer to inspect before the property can even be marketed, although current regulations provide that search results (forming part of the HIP) only need to be available for inspection within 28 days of marketing the property.

HIPs were made compulsory for different properties on the following dates:

1st August 2007: 4 Bedrooms or more
10th September 2007: 3 Bedrooms or more
14th December 2007: Any size of property

If your property was marketed before the relevant date (left) then you may continue to market it without the need for a HIP. If the property has been temporarily taken off the market for any reason other than accepting an offer for sale, you will require a HIP before remarketing the property. However, if the property was taken off the market on acceptance of an offer from a buyer and the sale fell through you may return the property to the market without a HIP, provided you do so within twenty-eight days.

A HIP is a document containing important information for a buyer, It includes an Energy Performance Certificate, a sales statement which includes details of the title, searches of the Local Authority and the Local Water/Drainage Authority. It also includes copies of the Registers at H.M. Land Registry (if the title to the property is registered), or copy Title Deeds (If the property is unregistered). A copy of the title plan will also be included so as to check the extent of the property being sold.

Once produced, the HIP remains valid indefinitely and there is no obligation on you to renew or update any information contained in it unless you choose to do so.