Frequently asked questions

Do I need a HIP?

If you are selling a property in England or Wales, with an estate agent or privately, regardless of its age or number of bedrooms, you are legally required buy a HIP.

What actually is in a HIP?

A HIP or Home Information Pack is a document containing about 50 pages. It can be printed out or kept as an electronic document. It must contain the following official documents:
• An Index of contents
• An Energy Performance Certificate
• A sale statement (summarizing terms of sale)
• Evidence of title Land and Drainage Searches
• A copy of the lease where appropriate.
• PIQ (Property Information Questionnaire
Our HIPs contain all of these official documents.

Are there any add on fees afterwards?

No. Once you have paid you own the HIP. There are no hidden fees.

How long will the HIP take to arrive?

From the 6th of April 2009 a HIP has to be available on the first day a property is marketed. It is no longer possible for homes to be marketed providing a HIP has been ordered. Though not all components of the HIP are required for first day marketing.

  • Index
  • A sales statement
  • PIQ
  • EPC
  • Register and Title plan

Once the above are in place you are able to market your property. We aim to achieve this within 48 Hours of receiving payment and the DEA completing the EPC.
The final components can take up to 7-10 days but this does not stop you from selling your home.

Will I own the HIP?

Yes. And you can take it with you if you decide to use another estate agent.

Will your HIPs allow me to sell my property with an estate agent?

Yes. As soon as you have placed your order, you will be sent an email confirming your order. You can show this to an estate agent who will be able to start marketing your property as soon as first day marketing has been completed.

Will somebody need to visit my property?

Yes one of our trained Domestic Energy Assessors will contact you shortly after you have placed your order to arrange a convenient time to visit your property. The visit will take approximately one hour and will include tasks such as measuring your rooms, checking for insulation and examining your light bulbs and boiler systems etc.

Could our property fail the energy inspection?

No, you do not pass or fail the energy inspection. Your property will be assigned a grade between A - G depending on how energy efficient it is. You will also be provided with a report explaining how you could improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Why are your HIPs so cheap?

The main reason is that we make the HIPs ourselves, we don't resell somebody else's. So we are effectively cutting out the middle man. We are also making a lot of HIPs and so benefit from lower costs.

How long does a HIP last?

If you are continually marketing your property, and you do not take it off the market, your HIP will last for as long as it takes to sell your property.
If you take your property off the market and then put it back on again, there is no need to refresh the documentation in the HIP providing you relist the property within 12 months of having first marketed the property.

If I own a share of the freehold, can I buy a freehold HIP?

No. In terms of the HIP it doesn't make a difference whether you own a share of the freehold, the whole of the freehold, or if a management company owns the freehold. If the property is leasehold then a leasehold HIP will need to be purchased. There is a lot of important information contained with the leasehold register, and that needs to be included in your HIP.