HOME INFORMATION PACKS
 
Home Information Packs are now compulsory for most homes placed on the market in England and Wales.  A property cannot be marketed without one.

The Home Information Pack is a set of documents which provide information to potential buyers.

The regulations surrounding Home Information Packs was further up-dated with effect from 6 April 2009.

So What Does The Home Information Pack Contain?

There are two elements to the Home Information Pack, the required (compulsory) documents and the authorised (optional) documents.

The required documents are:

Home Information Pack index
Property Information Questionnaire
Energy Performance Certificate
Sales Statement
Evidence of title
Standard searches

In addition for leasehold properties, there is a need to provide a copy of the lease.

The authorised documents that can be inserted within the Home Information Pack are, for example, a home condition report, fitting and contents form, specialist searches and any planning documents.  

The regulations have been updated in April 2009.  As from 6 April 2009 the Home Information Pack must be available on the first day of marketing.  However, if there is a delay in, for example, in receiving some of the searches that need to go in the Home Information Pack, then regulation do allow for these to be added after the first day of marketing.  

Secondly, as from 6 April the Property Information Questionnaire must be included in the Home Information Pack to provide buyers with useful practical information about the property and to deal with enquiries which might arise during the course of a sale.  

Thirdly, as from 6 April 2009 the searches within the Home Information Pack must be complete and give full replies.  It is no longer acceptable for search agencies to provide insurance as an alternative to providing full replies to the searches that are required in the Home Information Pack.

For further information please contact Paul Slater at our Stafford office on 01785 211411 or Jane Peplow at our Rugeley office on 01889 583871.

22 December 2009

Disclaimer

The contents of this article are for the purposes of general awareness only.  They do not purport to constitute legal or professional advice.  The law may have changed since this article was published.  Readers should not act on the basis of the information included and should take appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.