Home Information Packs

The Home Information Pack (also known as the HIP) is compulsory for all homes on the market in England and Wales. It is a set of documents that provides the buyer with key information on the property and must be provided by the seller or the seller’s agent.

Why do you need a HIP?
It is a legal requirement to have a HIP and you can’t market your property without one. The HIP lets buyers see important information on the property at the start of the process, free of charge.

What does a HIP contain?

The HIP is made up of required (compulsory) and authorised (optional) items. Listed below are all the compulsory documents that need to be included.

Compulsory documents

The following documents must be included in your HIP:

Freehold properties

• Home Information Pack Index
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Sustainability information (required for newly built homes only)
• Sale statement
• Evidence of title
• Standard searches (local authority and drainage and water)

Leasehold properties
• All the compulsory documents for freehold properties
• A copy of the lease

Optional documents
Other documents can be included within your HIP but these are optional. These include:
• Home Condition Report
• Legal summary
• Home use/contents form
• Other documents such as specialised search reports
(for example, the seller may choose to include a mining search in a mining area)

Who pays for the HIP?
The seller is responsible for the cost of a HIP.

What will a pack look like?
There isn’t a standard ‘look’ for a Home Information Pack. The only requirements are that it includes all of the compulsory (‘required’) items and that certain important documents were no more than three months old when the property was first marketed for sale.