Do I need a HIP

Role out Phases and commencement dates

Properties on the market before certain dates, whether with an Agent or advertise privately are exempt as long as they have been continuously marketed. A break in marketing after these dates, even for 1 day, will then trigger the need to buy a Home Information Pack. If your property was on the market BEFORE the following dates, you do not require a Home Information Pack:

4+ bed homes on market before 1st Aug 2007 are exempt. 3 bed homes on market before 10th Sep 2007 are exempt. Studio, 1 & 2 bed homes on market before 14th Dec 2007 are exempt.

1st May 2008 Onwards

New build homes require a HIP and will be required to include a certificate (or interim certificate) showing either the Code for Sustainable Homes or a nil-rated certificate showing that the home meets current building regulations.

1st January 2009 onwards

The temporary period of being able to market a home by simply ordering a HIP and the HIP not actually being completed ends on the 31st December 2008. A property cannot be marketed from 1st January 2009 until a completed HIP is available (Note: This originally was to be 1st June 2008 but has now been delayed).

However, due to difficulties in obtaining certain documents, a completed HIP may be missing the following documents, and the marketing can start without these documents:

• Evidence of title (If unregistered)
• Local Searches
• Drainage and Water Search
• Leasehold information or commonhold information

Further Reading

The HIP regulations
The latest HIP law

Where can I buy a HIP
Compares the options of buying a HIP from and Estate Agent, HIP Provider or how to create a HIP yourself.

What is in a HIP
Details of the contents of a HIP including examples and Free Templates.