WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOME INFORMATION PACKS

From the 10th September 2007, the law requires that anyone wishing to place a property with three or more bedrooms in England and Wales on the market for sale will first have to arrange for the production of a Home Information Pack (HIP).

The HIP consists of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and a pack of legal documents.

The EPC details the energy performance and environmental impact ratings of the property together with advice on how to cut fuel bills and reduce the carbon footprint of the property.

The legal pack includes identification of who owns the property and any rights or restrictions relevant to the property together with details of any planning or building regulation consents. It also covers matters such as whether the roads and footpaths are maintained by the Local Authority and whether the property is connected to mains drainage and a public sewer.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

The EPC is undertaken by a qualified Energy Assessor who
will charge in the order of £100.00 +VAT                                                  £117.50

The legal documents 

Office Copy                                                                                                £7.95
Search                                                                                                       £90.00
Drainage Search                                                                                        £46.55

                                                                                       TOTAL                £262.00

Gard & Co will assemble and deliver your HIP in both paper bound hard copy and electronic version at NO ADDITIONAL COST.

SOME CAUTIONARY ADVICE

Be aware of the so called ‘FREE HIP’. The above costs are real and are payable to third parties to provide the information that you will legally require. These costs are often recoverable within the overall cost of a transaction and frequently include additional charges and fees.
If in doubt Gard & Co will provide impartial and transparent comparison of real costs.

IF IN DOUBT – CONTACT YOUR SOLICITOR

PROPERTY LINKS INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENTS WILL BE RECOMMENDING
GARD & CO AS PART OF THE FASTMOVE GROUP