Changes to HIP Process

The changes announced by the government indicate that they have listened to the concerns raised by industry and also to feedback from the Area Trials. 

The main aspects of the changes are;

Energy Performance Certificates

These must be the first document in a HIP and must be attached to the estate agents’ property particulars.

Documents Required for Marketing

To address concerns that properties cannot be marketed without all the documentation available, a temporary change has been made. The documents that must be included before a property can be marketed have been reduced to;

• Index
• Energy Performance Certificate
• Title Documentation
• Sale Statement

There must be evidence that the remaining documents have been commissioned, and that the documents should be available within 28 days.

This change will be reviewed in December 2007.

Area Trials

To test further the use of HIPs, two new Area Trials have been announced for subsidised HIPs - North West Wales and London Borough of Southwark.

Use of private searches

Until April 2008, Private Search Companies (sometimes called personal search companies) will be allowed to continue to insure against problems arising from their only having access to limited information which can cause issues in searches that they produce.

HIP Deadline

For those properties already on the market before 1st June, the deadline by which they will need a HIP has been extended to 31st March 2008.

Properties Taken Off Market

Originally, if a property was taken off the market for 28 days, a new HIP was required. Now, a new HIP is required only if the property is taken off the market for over a year after the original marketing date.