Buying and Selling

If you're selling a property you will need to commission a packbefore you can market your property.  If you are buying a property you will want to see a HIP when negotiating a price.

Buyers' frequently asked questions

When should I expect to receive a Home Information Pack/Energy Performance Certificate for a property I am interested in buying/am in the process of buying?

The HIP must have been commissioned and paid for (or arrangement for payment made) so that the documents will have arrived before the property is placed on the market.

Potential buyers have a right to a copy of the Pack and this should be provided within 14 days of request.  Sellers are entitled to make a reasonable charge to cover copying and postage costs and may also refuse to provide a copy in certain limited cases. These are where the seller believes that the person making the request:

• could not afford the property
• is not really interested in buying the property
• is not a person to whom the seller would wish to sell the property (but this does not allow them to unlawfully discriminate against someone)

Who compiles HIPs?

Sellers can hire estate agents, solicitors, separate pack providers, or do it themselves.  We recommend using Talfourds Solicitors' experienced Conveyancing services to prepare these packs as they are legally binding, and you could be prosecuted if they are compiled incorrectly.  A pack provided by Talfourds Solicitors will be independent, enabling you to take the pack to your chosen estate agents.

What's Required

• Contact a solicitor or conveyancer to arrange for the searches and legal documents you need or go to the appropriate local authority or a personal search company for the searches, and to the Land Registry for evidence of title.
• Locate a Domestic Energy Assessor to do your Energy Performance Certificate (note all Home Inspectors are certified as Domestic Energy Assessors as well)
• Find a Home Inspector if you want a Home Condition Report

Talfourds Solicitors can arrange for a domestic Energy assessor or Home Inspector to contact you to arrange the Energy Performance Compliance and Home Condition Report.

Requirements are that the Pack includes all of the compulsory ('Required') items and certain key documents.

Land Registry evidence of title and searches must be no more than three months old when the property is put on the market.

Using our services simplifies the whole process