What is a HIP?

A HIP is a package of information which must be assembled by a vendor [or an estate agent] prior to marketing a residential property. The documents that have to be included in a HIP from the first day a property is marketed include:

• an Index
• a Sales Statement
• evidence of title
• Energy Performance Certificate.

Whilst these documents have to be in place before the property can be marketed there are others that must be obtained within 28 days so that the vendor or estate agent can demonstrate that the HIP is compliant. Until the end of the year (2007), people will be allowed to market their properties as soon as they have commissioned a pack - rather than having to wait until they have received a pack.

These additional items are:

• local authority Search [including Land Charges, Planning and Highways]
• Water and Drainage Search
• copies of any Leases or Licences to which the property is subject.

All documents must be the originals.  If this is not possible, certified true copies must be supplied. However this does not apply to the following documents if they are illegible or unclear (either in whole or part):

• Documents relied on to deduce unregistered title
• Documents referred to in the register of title
• Required or authorised common hold or leasehold information

All documents must be dated no earlier than three months prior to the first point of marketing, this does not apply to other pack documents (for example the Home Condition Report) where the documents can be dated prior to three months.  All documents must be easily identified that they are the most recent documents prior to the first point of marketing.

All information must be legible and clear (especially in relation to maps, plans or  drawings).