20
May
New Government Suspends Home Information Packs
The coalition government has suspended the use of Home
Information Packs (HIPs) by home sellers.
HIPs were introduced in 2007 in England and Wales.
The aim was to speed up the house selling process by obliging
sellers to provide much of the required conveyancing information
when properties are first put up for sale.
The packs are paid for by sellers and contain property information,
title deeds, and local searches.
"Today the new government is ensuring that home information packs
are history," said Housing Minister Grant Shapps.
"By suspending home information packs today, it means that home
sellers will be able to get on with marketing their home without
having to shell out hundreds of pounds upfront.
"We are committed to greener housing so from now on all that will
be required will be a simple energy performance certificate," he
added.