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A Home Information Pack is viewed as an important marketing tool of a home or a building (property). The interested buyers can ask the Home Information Pack documents from seller on payment of certain amount. To, bring more transparency in the transaction of a property deal, the UK’s Housing Act 2004 has made it compulsory for sellers to provide a copy of HIP to the potential buyer. The seller can deny this right to buyer only on the following grounds;

- If the buyer does not have enough financial means to finance the deal and thus follows the route of an ‘in principle’ mortgage.
- The so-called buyer asks the copy of HIP, just to seek information of a property and is reluctant to endorse the deal.
- Lastly, it is the seller’s right whom to offer the HIP documents (for sale purpose) and whom to deny. However, the denial on the part of seller should not be based on race, sex or disability.

Self-compiling Facts

HIP includes both the compulsory documents and some optional documents. In case of common-hold and leasehold properties, the HIP must include some additional document beside the compulsory and optional documents. Interestingly, you can compile the HIP even if you hire the service of an estate agent.

Before, you gear to self-compile the HIP, it is important to collect all those required documents from authentic sources. You need to press the services of a solicitor or conveyancer for procuring legal documents and searches. For search and other related work, you can approach local bodies like the Land Registry or simply you can take the help of a personal search company. For matters like Energy Efficiency Rating, you can knock the door of either registered Domestic Energy Assessor or Home Inspector.

The Compulsory Documents

After you compile the HIP documents, it is important to maintain a list of the same in the HIP Index. First, download an Index Form from the Internet and then write down the list of the Pack’s content. If you want, you may also download a sale statement from the website.

The HIP is required to incorporate many important ‘Compulsory’ documents. You can appoint the DEA, to obtain an Energy performance Certificate. However, a Home Inspector can furnish you both an Energy Performance Certificate (aka EPC) and a HCR (Home Condition Report), as the HI has the authority to issue both the documents.

To provide evidence for the title, you have to approach the Land Registry Office. Copies of register of your house and title plan will also provide evidence that you are the owner of the house. In case, your home is not registered, then you can produce an official result of the search of the Index map (SIM), which will render evidence pertaining to your ownership. For the same, you can approach the Land registry Office.

Among all Optional Documents, the Home Condition Report is the most essential. As previously mentioned you need to contact a Home Inspector for this particular job. Approach the Internet from where you can download Home-content and Home-use forms. Seek suitable authorities or arrange for personal searches if you really want to add certain additional or particular search reports. It may also be liable to include significant guaranties and warranties on the property.

Remember, things such as your ability to amass your Home Information Pack, an increased number of documents and a higher perfection and suitability of the provided information will utmost prove your genius as a quality property seller.