HIPs : Required, authorised and excluded documents

HIP Regulations provide that the HIP must include documents “required” under the HIP Regulations, and may include the documents “authorised” under HIP Regulation but should not include any other documents.

Where a document that is neither required nor authorised to be included in a
HIP is provided to a potential buyer in close proximity to a HIP or HIP document, it must be separated and clearly distinguished from the Home Information Pack  or HIP document.

The intention behind this provision is two-fold. Firstly, to distinguish the “official” HIP documents from others and to avoid consumers being confused or mislead into believing that prohibited documents form part of the HIP. Secondly, to ensure that consumers know the difference between HIP documents and, for example, advertising or marketing information about other services that they might otherwise feel pressured to accept.

This HIP Regulations do not prevent anyone from giving additional information to a potential buyer providing that the nature of it is made clear and distinct from HIP documents.

The difference between “required” and “authorised” documents  compulsory and optional documents are as follows.

Only documents that are prescribed as either required or authorised may be included in HIPs. Documents which are not mentioned in the HIP Regulations should not be included. Required HIP documents or information must be included in all cases except in certain limited circumstances where they are unobtainable (either temporarily or permanently) However, it is strongly recommended that these HIP documents are included where they are available and are relevant to the property and/or its sale and are likely to be of interest to a potential buyer.