From 1 August 2007 the owners of all properties with four or more bedrooms are affected by the HIPS regulations which require that before the property can be marketed, the owner must requisition a Home Information Pack (HIP). This requirement was extended to properties with three bedrooms from 10 September 2007. The regulations apply to residential houses and flats.

The regulations set out what must be included in the HIP and what can be included in the HIP, but one compulsory element is an Energy Performance Certificate which can be up to12 months old when the property is first put up for sale.

In a change to the original proposals, up until the end of 2007, it is not necessary for the HIP to be in existence when the property is marketed, so long as the owner has applied for a HIP.

The Government’s declared intention is to extend the scheme to include smaller properties as soon as there are enough qualified Inspectors to produce the Energy Performance Reports.

Ormerods Residential Department is well prepared for the regulations and is able to produce a Home Information Pack for our clients and professional partners.