7 September 2009
You and the Law - eBulletin
Shooting from the HIP
Home Information Packs or HIPs (as well as Energy Performance Certificates) are here to stay - at least for the time being and, contrary to some negative reports, if well prepared they can be a valuable part of the moving process.
Home Information Packs or HIPs (as well as Energy Performance Certificates) are here to stay - at least for the time being and, contrary to some negative reports, if well prepared they can be a valuable part of the moving process.
We believe a properly prepared HIP is a very useful weapon when trying to sell a property, especially if the sale is to go through quickly.
Although there are still some problems with HIPs, these can be the result of inaccurately completed packs, which is often the fault of the providers rather than the legislation.
Not only can a poorly prepared HIP expose sellers to penalties but they will be paying for something that has no real value or benefit, which could actually hinder the sales process.
David Knapp says, “Our view is that a HIP completed with personal searches rather than local authority searches is an example of an inadequate pack, as it should include full local and drainage searches to avoid any problems or delays.
“There is no real reason why some HIP providers continue with personal searches; the majority of local authorities have reduced their search costs to bring them more in line with the cost of personal searches.“
Not all HIP providers fully understand the relevant law and regulations, which often results in incorrect or insufficient documentation being put in the pack.
There are many benefits of having HIPs produced by Hart Brown: they save the buyer time and money due to the quality of the searches, the packs only contain relevant and necessary documentation and our clients can always rely on us to produce the HIPs quickly and effectively. At a cost of £295 or less in most cases, Hart Brown HIPs provide excellent value for money too.
For further information on Home Information Packs please contact David Knapp, Residential Property, on 01483 887772, or email dsk@hartbrown.co.uk