It’s now nearly a year since Home Information Packs (HIPs) were introduced but they are still raising questions among people buying and selling homes.

The Department for Communities and Local Government regularly issues statements clarifying any areas of uncertainty.

The Department recently confirmed that HIPs are needed when a home is being sold on shared ownership terms. This would not apply if the property was being sold to a sitting tenant as no marketing would have taken place and the property would not be conveyed with vacant possession.

The statement says: “However, if it is an ordinary open market sale on shared ownership terms then a HIP would be needed unless some other exception applied.”

HIPs were first introduced last August for sales of homes of four bedrooms or more. In December, they were extended to homes of all sizes. Please contact us if you would like more information about HIPs or any aspect of buying and selling a home.