Thackray Williams

Currently, a property can be marketed without a Home Information Pack (HIP) if the documents that are required to be in the HIP have been commissioned and paid for or the payment has been arranged. This is provided the HIP is ready within 28 days of the property being marketed. This was considered a temporary provision that would cease on 1st June 2008 whereby, on that date, no property could be marketed without a HIP being in place. However, this date has now been extended to 31st December 2008 to enable a “further period of the flexibility provided”.

Similarly, with regards to leasehold properties, there is currently only the requirement to provide a copy of the Lease in the Home Information Pack. Other leasehold documents are “authorised” but not required. This provision was due to expire on 31 May 2008. However, due to the difficulties that have been revealed in obtaining other leasehold information such as buildings insurance policies, service charge accounts and the requirements of the freeholders/ managing agents as well as the cost, it has been suggested that to try and include all leasehold information in the HIP before the property can be marketed “would cause serious difficulties”. To enable further work and assessment to be carried out, the provision for leasehold documents to be included in the HIP has also been extended to 31 December 2008. Therefore, still only the Lease is required to be included in the HIP.

It is anticipated that final measures will be prepared and introduced from 1 January 2009.

For more information about Home Information Packs contact Debbie Saker on 020 8663 4117 or email debbie.saker@thackraywilliams.com