A Home Information Pack provides information to a buyer about a property which they may wish to purchase. The pack must be provided by the home seller or the seller's agent. The pack is intended to improve the home buying and selling process in England & Wales, which is currently very slow and subject to a 30% failure rate.

Under the current system, key information is withheld from both buyers and sellers until a sale is agreed. This often results in costly issues arising later than necessary in the sale process. The Government intends that by using a HIP, information will be provided up front enabling buyers to make an informed decision early on and avoid delays, uncertainties and unnecessary expense. The aim is that this new system will be simple and more efficient.

HIPs are not required when selling the following properties:

non-residential property;

mixed commercial and residential property;

sales of tenanted properties;

a portfolio of residential properties sold as a single lot

residentail properties which are unsafe or due for demolition

The pack must contain:

Sale statement

Title documents

Title plan

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)*

Local Authority Search

Drainage & Water Search

Consumer Redress document

Index

Additionally, leasehold properties will need to provide:

A copy of the lease

Name and address of Landlord & Managing Agents

Service Charge statements over last 36 months

Finacial requests made by Landlord over last 12 months

Regulations or rules made under the lease

Proposed amendments to the lease

Summary of proposed building works

* HIPs for new build properties will require an Interim Energy Assessment.