Sansoms Estate & Lettings Ltd, can provide Home Information Packs (HIPS) for any property throughout England and Wales. We will be pleased to provide your HIP with an Energy Efficiency Report (EPC) from a qualified domestic energy assessor.

What is a Home Information Pack (HIP)?

A HIP contains a number of key legal documents which are important for both the buyer and seller. The main requirements for documents are as follows:

1. An Index
2. An Energy Performance Certificate
3. A Sale Statement
4. Evidence of Title
5. Standard Searches
6. Common Hold Information (If Applicable)
7. Leasehold Information (If Applicable)

Optional Documents will include:

• A Home condition Report (HCR)
• Guarantee and Warranties
• Other searches relevant to any particular area.

If you are selling a property with 4 bedrooms or more from the 1st August 2007, you are obliged by law to provide a pack to any potential purchasers. The government has also announced from 10th September 2007, that you are also obliged by law to provide a pack if you are selling a property with 3 bedrooms or more.

By providing this information at the initial stage when interest is shown by a potential purchaser, the pack should benefit you, the seller by reducing the likelihood of any surprises arising later in the process and should therefore not delay the sale which could have been a problem previously.

If my home is already on the market will I still need a HIP?

If a house is already on the market, then the property will not require a HIP.

If the vendor decides to take the property off the market and then puts it back on again, then the property will need a HIP.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

Energy Performance Certificates will tell property buyers and sellers about a property’s energy efficiency using A-G ratings, like that used to rate a fridge or washing machine. The certificate will also make recommendations for cost effective improvements that can be made to help cut fuel bills.

How you can assist in preventing climate change.

1. Only boil as much water as you need when making a hot drink.
2. Switch off your PC and monitor do not leave on standby and this includes TV’s, CD Players, DVD Players and other household appliances.
3. Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
4. Replace your conventional bulbs with energy saving light bulbs which are now widely available in retail outlets.

There is many more saving tips which we can assist you further with. It is estimated that by following the recommendations in an EPC, an average of £300 a year could be saved in fuel bills, according to the energy saving trust.

What is a Home Condition Report?

The optional Home Condition Report provides information about the condition the home is in and includes an Energy performance Certificate.

The Home condition report rates the condition of each part of the home on a scale from 1-3 (Where 1 is the best). Letting the seller and buyer know if any repairs are needed and, if so, whether they are serious.

A Home Information Pack should help you reduce.

• The time it takes to sell your house.
• The chance of your sale falling through.
• Wasted Costs
• The Stress Involved with the process.