HIPs Changes - Today's the Day

From today, buyers and sellers of homes in England and Wales must deal with the following changes to the Home Information Pack (HIP) regime.

1. The temporary first day marketing exemption is removed. All properties will need a HIP form the first day they are marketed.

2. A ‘Property Information Questionnaire’ must be completed by the seller and included in the HIP.

3. It will no longer be permitted for insurance to be put in place to cover missing data in the HIP. This means that all searches must be complete before the HIP is used.

Sellers and buyers can find more information, including a new leaflet on the DirectGov website. Also, in response to some of the queries about the introduction of the PIQ on 6 April 2009, we have taken the opportunity to publish answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, on the Communities and Local Government website.

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.