Do I need a home information pack for the property I’m selling?
All properties “marketed for sale” from the 17 December 2007 on England and Wales require a Home Information Pack unless the property falls within a specifically excluded category. The Excluded categories are:
- Properties where there is no marketing (e.g. sale to member of your family)
- Non-residential properties
- Properties subject to a condition limiting their use to occupation for less than 11 months per year or holiday accommodation
- Mixed sales (e.g. shop with flat)
- Right to buy and similar sales
- Sales of portfolios of properties
- Properties not being sold with completely vacant possession
- Unsafe properties and properties to be demolished.
The legislation has however been phased into the property market since 1 August 2007. The following properties required a HIP from the commencement date listed:
Sales of homes with 4 or more bedrooms - 1 August 2007
Sales of homes with 3 or more bedrooms - 10 September 2007
Properties that were already on the market before the relevant date for each category do not need a HIP, for example, a four-bedroom property on the market prior to 1 August 2007 will still not require a HIP.
At this stage no such date has been set when all properties that are on the market will require a HIP.
