Frequently Asked Questions

Sellers can hire estate agents, solicitors or separate pack providers.

No - only in England and Wales.

If you are marketing your property, even if it's just by putting a 'for sale' sign in the window, you need a Pack. Sales where no marketing takes place (e.g. to a member of the family) won't need a Pack.

The seller is responsible for the cost of a Home Information Pack. The cost of the Pack is down to the market, but sellers will often be able to defer costs until late in the sale.

This depends on the agreement between the seller and the compiler of the Pack. Some examples of the ways that Packs might be paid for are as follows:

•   Seller pays for the Pack upfront from estate agent, solicitor or Pack provider
•   Seller compiles the Pack and pays each organisation for the relevant component (e.g. the Land Registry for the title document)
•   Pack provider offers the Pack to the seller on a 'buy now, pay on completion' basis, which is usually a credit agreement for three or six months between the seller and the organisation compiling the pack.

These are only indications of payment models; the Pack regulations do not prescribe any particular payment method.

See What's in a Home Information Pack? for more information

Electrical certificates (past or present) are not a required component of the Pack, but can be included if the seller has them.

Don't worry - guarantees aren't a required component of the Pack, but can be included if you have them.

If your house has not been taken off the market i.e. continuous marketing has occured, then no, you will not need to commission a HIP. If  however, there was a break in marketing you will need to supply a HIP.