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What are HIPs?

HIPs are only available in England and Wales. Before HIPs were introduced, buyers usually had to wait until after they had made a formal offer before they saw essential information on the property. As a buyer, you would usually have to apply for and pay for this information yourself. The HIP gives you a chance to see these important documents free of charge before you make an offer. Once you are interested in a property, you should ask to see the Home Information Pack.

From 6 April 2009, the HIP must be available on the first day a property is marketed for sale.

What is in a HIP?

The HIP is made up of required (compulsory) and authorised (optional) items.

There shouldn't be any marketing or advertising material in the pack, so make sure it contains official information only.

Listed below are all the compulsory documents that need to be included:

• Home Information Pack Index
• the new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ), from 6 April 2009
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA)
• sustainability information (required for newly built homes)
• sale statement
• evidence of title
• standard searches (local authority and drainage and water)
• a copy of the lease for leasehold properties
• commonhold documents, where appropriate

For a complete guide to the compulsory and optional documents follow the links below.

• HIPs: compulsory items

• HIPs: optional items

What do you need to do?

Just ask whoever is advertising the property for sale for a copy of the HIP. This is usually an estate agent, but could be another business or individual.

They must give you a copy of the HIP free of charge if you ask for it. However, they may make a reasonable charge to cover the costs of copying and posting it.

You should get your copy of the HIP within 14 days of the request being made.

Checking the HIP

You should check to see if any of the compulsory documents are missing. If anything is missing, make sure that there's a satisfactory explanation and an assurance that the missing items will be provided as soon as possible.

Should you choose to enter into negotiations to buy a property, you should pass the HIP to your solicitor. They will find it useful in their pre-contract enquiries.

How much will a HIP cost?

If you are a buyer, nothing: you'll get a copy of the HIP free on any property you are interested in. However, you may be asked to pay copying and postage costs. You are not required to have made an offer on a property before requesting a copy.

You can’t be charged for the Energy Performance Certificate - it must be provided free of charge.

What can you do if a HIP/EPC isn't provided?

Sellers or their agents have to provide the pack within 14 days of a request from a buyer. A seller can refuse to provide a copy in limited cases. This is usually when a seller believes that the person making the request:

• couldn't afford the property
• isn't really interested in buying the property
• isn't a person who the seller would wish to sell the property to (but this doesn't allow them to unlawfully discriminate against someone)

If you believe you are being denied a copy of the pack unlawfully, local authority trading standards officers can help you.

• Find your local Trading Standards office