How to Buy a House

Home Information Packs

Home information packs or HIPs are now required for all three and four bedroom houses. They must contain an Energy Performance Certificate, sale searches, and  details of the lease (if leasehold).  They take five working days to compile, cost around £300+VAT, and can be arranged by an estate agent.   They are especially useful for first time buyers who need to know as much about a property as possible before costs are outlaid on the desired property.  The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) contains advice on how to cut carbon emissions and save money on heating. 

 Home Information Packs contain:

An Energy Performance Certificate which tells you how energy efficient the property is.

Other compulsory documents, such as an index of contents, a sale statement, searches and evidence of title.

Optional documents, such as the Home Condition Report.

Some may include information on council tax costs etc.

Probably the most useful element is the home condition report – which gives information on the soundness of the property so hopefully sellers will include them!

More detailed information on the contents of home information packs are available elsewhere on our site.

Find out more about the house-buying process:

How Much Can I Borrow? l Find a Property l Mortgages l Conveyancing Solicitors and Legal costs l Stamp Duty l Property Insurance l How to Budget l Surveys and Surveyors l Solicitors l Removal Companies l Utilities Companies l Buying a House at Auction l Buying a Repossessed Property

Useful websites:

www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk

Most useful and most popular pages on this site:

Look for your First Property l Seek First Time Buyer Mortgage Advice l See our Best First Mortgages Comparison Table l Find out about First Time Buyer Mortgages l Find out How to Buy a House l Learn all about The First Time Buyer Mortgage l Shared Ownership