Why you need a HIP

It is a legal requirement to have a HIP and you can't market your property without one. The HIP lets buyers see important information on the property at the start of the process, free of charge.

What is in a HIP

The HIP is made up of required (compulsory) and authorised (optional) items.
There shouldn't be any marketing or advertising material in the pack, so make sure it contains official information only.

From 6 April 2009, the HIP must be available and contain the following documents on the first day a property is put on the market:

• Home Information Pack Index
• Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA)
  
• sustainability information (required for newly built homes)
  
• sale statement
  
• evidence of title

If the following documents are unavailable when marketing begins, they should be added to the HIP as soon as they are available. These documents must be included within 28 days of the date the property was first placed on the market:

• standard searches (local authority and drainage and water)
  
• a copy of the lease for leasehold properties
  
• commonhold documents, where appropriate
  

For more detailed information on the compulsory and optional documents and how to get them, follow the links below.

• HIPs: compulsory items
• HIPs: optional items