Selling your house? Are you HIP happy?

BEWARE 6^th APRIL

From the 6^th April, if you are selling your home, there are two key changes you should know.   The first change is that every home being sold requires a Home Information Pack (HIP) BEFORE it can be marketed. 

The second change is that the HIP must contain a Property Information Questionnaire.  This has to be completed by the Seller to tell the buyer if any structural alterations have been made (oops, what, no building consent?), flood risk? (ouch insurance premiums), parking arrangements? (what none?), gas and electricity safety (is that gas I smell?) etc.   The aim of this document is to tell the buyer at the start and avoid unnecessary delays caused by information coming to light later.   Hopefully it will save buyers wasted costs.   Some say HIPS are not working.  Can the buyer trust the answers? What will a survey show?                               

The Government says the changes will make information readily available to the buyer from the day the property is marketed and make the process more straightforward. A HIP can be provided in around 5 days.