As from 6th April 2009 a residential dwellinghouse or flat being sold with vacant possession cannot be advertised unless there is a Home Information Pack in existence.
For details of properties which can be sold without a Home Information Pack click here.
From the above date therefore a HIP must be available and contain the following documents on the first day that the property is placed on the market.
- An index
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
- Sales Statement
- Evidence of Title
Some documents may not be available when marketing begins and have to be added as and when they become available. In any event they must be included within 28 days of the date when the property was first placed on the market.
These documents are:-
- A Local Search
- A Water and Drainage Search
- A copy of the Lease (if the property is leasehold)
There is a provision within the Regulations allowing the property to be marketed or advertised 14 days after an EPC has been ordered if that document is not then available.
You can see an example of a HIP on the right hand side of this page.