Home Information Packs (HIPS)
Home > Services > Home Information Packs (HIPS)

HIPs no longer required, but you still need an EPC…
From 20th May 2010, if you intend to sell your house you no longer need to have a Home Information Pack (HIP) in place, but you do still need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that was part of the old HIP.  To comply with the new law, you need to have instructed an EPC to be prepared, and either to have paid for it, or given a clear undertaking to pay, before marketing your property.
As an estate agent we have to be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned before starting to market your home, and of course we can help organise it if you haven’t already got one in place. They are valid for ten years so you may already have a current one for the property.
Where one isn’t in place we have to make “reasonable efforts” to secure an EPC within 28 days, and there are fixed penalties where somebody fails to comply. If you don’t have one then just have a talk with our team and we can help organise what is required quickly and professionally.

What is an EPC?
The EPC will contain energy ratings for homes. It will outline the cost of heating, hot water and lighting in homes and will give practical advice on how to cut these costs and reduce carbon emissions. It will also provide sellers and buyers with an A-G rating on their homes. By acting upon the recommendations, it is anticipated that the average homeowner will save £300 every year on fuel bills. Recommendations could include information as to how to insulate your loft better through to the use of solar panels etc.