Homeowners or their agent marketing a residential property in England or Wales are under a legal duty to provide a Home Information Pack, and for properties marketed from 6 April 2009 new rules now apply.

3Counties compiles HIPs for local solicitors, estate agents and home vendors quickly and accurately which provide the following benefits to clients:

Our Home Information Pack uses HIP compliant searches, official copies of Land Registry title documents, water/drainage searches and leases (where appropriate)
Bespoke computer system that logs and tracks HIP components
HIP status available to clients
Client protection is assured with Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance (details on request)

For further advice on the new rules please download the 3Counties Sellers Guide to HIPs

From 6 April 2009 marketing of a property cannot begin until the HIP is available and all the required HIP documents are commissioned and paid for, or arrangements for payment made. A new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) is now a mandatory requirement, to be completed by the seller, and provides the buyer with a helpful checklist of information about the property including risk of flooding, gas and electrical safety, structural alterations and car parking.

The following compulsory documents must now be included in a HIP before marketing can begin:

Home Information Pack (HIP) Index
Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA) (new homes only)
Sustainability Certificate (new homes only)
Sale statement
Evidence of title - normally the register and title plan held by Land Registry

If the following documents are unavailable when marketing begins, they should be added to the Pack as soon as they are available. These documents must be included within 28 days of the date the property was first placed on the market:

Standard searches (local authority, drainage and water)
Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate

The Property Information Questionnaire is available as an interactive document that can be downloaded, saved on your PC and completed offline and emailed to us for inclusion in the HIP. Download the Property Information Questionnaire

Download a sample 3Counties Home Information Pack

Further details about Home Information Packs from the official Government website

Request competitive HIP pricing or further information

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