After two false starts, home information packs (Hips) became mandatory on August 2007.
Contents :
The pack must contain the following, which must be no more than three months old when the property is first marketed:
Index
Energy Performance Certificate
Sale Statement
Title documents for the property
Local Authority and drainage searches
If the property is leasehold or commonhold, then the pack must also include the following:
Copy of the lease
Building insurance policy
Contact details for the landlord or management and any legal details
Regulations that apply
Recent service charge receipts and accounts
For a transitional period sellers can market their homes without the searches or leasehold documents as long as the pack contains evidence that they have been commissioned and will be included as soon as practicable but certainly within 28 days.
The pack may also contain some or all of these authorised documents:
Home Condition Report
Two sellers questionnaire forms called Home Use Form and Home Contents Form
legal summary
Other searches such as a mining search
