The Home Information Pack Regulations 2007 were laid before Parliament today. This represents a major milestone in the Home Information Pack (HIP) timetable and the culmination of a significant amount of discussion with stakeholders to fine tune the policy.
Following the consultation in January, the government has made a small number of changes, taking on board the comments received. As a result, the Regulations require that:
* For a transitional period, sellers can market their homes with a HIP that includes the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), sale statement, evidence of title and index; and evidence that other documents have been commissioned and will be included in the pack as soon as practicable (and certainly within 28 days);
* The EPC is included as the first document in the pack, following the index;
* For those properties that cannot have an EPC - such as those bought 'off-plan' - a separate energy assessment will be included;
* The duty to refresh time-sensitive parts of the HIP will not arise where the property is re-marketed by the same seller within one year of the original marketing date;
* Personal search companies will be allowed to use insurance immediately for those parts of the search where they cannot gain access to data. This will only apply for a transitional period until April 2008;
* Properties already on the market by 1 June 2007 will not need a HIP unless they remain on the market after 31 December 2007.
The Regulations and a summary of the consultation responses are available on the HIPs website.
