HIPs for house buyers
Home Information Packs (HIPs) contain information that you need to know before you buy a residential property. They only apply to properties in England and Wales.
It's the seller's job to arrange and pay for the HIP. In fact, they must commission a HIP before they put their property on the market. There are very few exceptions to this rule.
HIPs - what you need to know
Look inside a HIP and you'll find information on a number of important matters from planning and road building decisions, to proof that the seller owns the property.
How do I get a HIP for a property?
It's easy to get a copy of the HIP - just speak to the person or company advertising the property - typically an estate agent.
There's no charge for the HIP itself. However, estate agents can make a reasonable charge to cover copying and postage.
Selling a home?
Searching for someone to prepare your HIP? We'd like to introduce you to Legal Marketing Services Ltd (LMS), one of the largest providers of HIPs in the UK.
It normally takes around two weeks for LMS to prepare a standard HIP. And you can use the LMS website (or call them) to check progress at any time.
Call LMS on 0845 075 7320. Lines are open: Mon to Fri 8.30am to 6.30pm and Sat 10am - 4pm.
What's in a HIP?
By law, the HIP you receive must contain the following information:
| HIP section | Description |
|---|---|
| Energy Performance Certificate | This tells the buyer about your home's energy efficiency, and sets out the property's environmental impact. It may also have advice on improving your property's rating. |
| Sale statement | Straightforward facts about the property, including the address, and whether it is freehold, leasehold or commonhold. |
| Standard searches | Information about the local land charges register relating to the property, as well as water and drainage searches. You'll also find other records held by the local authority, such as road building and planning decisions. |
| Evidence of title | Proof that you own the property - and in turn that you have the right to sell it. |
| Leasehold or commonhold documents | These are only included for leasehold and commonhold properties. |
| Index of contents | This lists all the documents in the HIP, and explain why any are missing. |
Optional information
Some HIPs may also contain what are known as 'authorised' documents. These are optional:
| HIP section | Description |
|---|---|
| Home Condition Report | This contains information about the physical condition of the property. |
| Legal summary | This outlines the legal content of the HIP. |
| Home use/content forms | Information on planning permissions, boundaries and related subjects. |
| Other documents | Documents such as an Environmental report, which pinpoints any adverse environmental issues that may affect the property. |
Get in touch
Call us on
0845 075 7320
Lines are open:
Mon to Fri 8.30am-6.30pm,
Sat 10am-4pm (excl. public holidays)
Max call charge from a BT landline is 2p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.
Calls may be recorded