It was today announced by the new government that the requirement for seller's to provide a Home Information Pack (HIP) will be suspended from 21 May 2010.
As expected Energy Performance Certificate's (EPC's) are retained and will still need to be produced within 28 days of the property being put on the market.
The practical effect of HIP's being scrapped is to shift the cost of paying for searches back to the buyer, which was always the position before they were introduced in 2007.
This news is welcome as HIP's were generally ignored and failed to speed up the house buying process.
It is now likely that further consultation will take place to look at ways to improve HIP's with a view to a possible reintroduction down the line.
Steve Petty
Commercial Property Solicitor
01926 629 005
This blog is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor is it intended to be a complete and authoritative statement of the law, and what we say might be out of date by the time you read it. You should always seek legal advice to confirm whether or how any information in this article applies to your particular situation. We offer a free telephone consultation to discuss your particular circumstances.