You may have seen in the press, or if you have not so far you will shortly, that Home Information Packs will be compulsory for residential property sellers from 1 June 2007 and we try below to answer a number of your queries:

1.   Will I need a HIP to sell a property?

Properties already on the market before 1 June 2007 will not need a HIP unless they remain on the market after 31 December 2007. There are a number of exemptions and these are briefly as follows:

a)   Non-residential or mixed used properties

b)   Properties which are not placed on the open

      market ie sold to relatives or friends

c)   Tenanted property

2.   Why are HIPs being bought in?

The Government reviewed the buying and selling process for properties and sought ways to remove wasted time, money and failed sales across the country.  They thought the best way was to highlight the key concerns and information at an early stage and give potential buyers information before they made an offer.

There has been and still is considerable opposition to the scheme as it is seen as a potential burden on sellers and delay in bringing properties to the market. The information that is required in a HIP has been somewhat watered down.

3.   What will a HIP comprise of?

A legal pack must contain:

a)   Index

b)   Energy Efficiency Certificate prepared by

      an accredited inspector

c)   Statement of the main terms of sale (confirming

      whether the property is freehold and

      vacant possession)

d)   Evidence of the title (the normal documentation

      that solicitors prepare to review your title deeds)

e)   Basic property searches (or in certain areas

      confirmation they have been applied for)

There are a number of other documents which are authorised to go into the pack but not a requirement. There are also extra requirements for Leasehold properties and different rules for developers.

4.   Will Hart Reade be able to provide us with a HIP?

We are currently working with the Law Society nationally and the Eastbourne Law Society locally so that when selling your house you should see no real difference in the speed at which the property goes on the market and the information that we require from you to progress matters.  It may well be that information we would have asked you for only when a sale had been agreed is now required beforehand.

We are working with local estate agents to ensure a seamless instruction system using the most up-to-date technology.

5.   How much will they cost?

No one is quite sure at this stage.  We are confident that as the most expensive aspect of a HIP, the Home Condition Report, is no longer a requirement, the costs should be manageable.  Further details of costs will be on our website when more information is available.

There will be a lot of speculation and scare stories in the Press about HIPs. Do not worry we are HIP ready!

If you have any concerns, queries or comments on Home Information Packs please do not hesitate to email apluck@hartreade.co.uk.

• HIPS (Home Information Packs).  We have been preparing for many months for the introduction of HIPS on residential property sales on 1 June 2007 and want to reassure our clients that we have the systems in place to produce a HIP for them when they wish to sell their property.  We use on-line services to obtain information which helps speed up the process.

• Employment.  We have contracts and procedures which help avoid the real risks of contravening recently introduced statutory procedures and rules against discrimination on grounds of age, disability, sex and race.

No Smoking.  From 1 July 2007 all employers, employees, customers and visitors will not be able to smoke in the enclosed area of the workplace.  Smoking rooms will no longer be allowed and smoking in work vehicles will not be permitted.

 

Maternity Leave.  New entitlements for working parents from 1 April:

• All employed women are entitled to additional maternity leave.

• The payment period for Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance has been extended to 39 weeks.

• Some notice periods have changed.

• Employed fathers have a new right to up to 26 weeks additional Paternity Leave.

• Enduring Powers of Attorney.  The government has delayed implementation of the new Lasting Powers of Attorney until 1 October 2007.   Enduring Powers of Attorney created before this date will continue to be valid.   Many of Hart Reade’s clients are updating their existing arrangements now because the relative simplicity of the existing form contrasts with the twelve page form of the new document together with a further one hundred and twenty-six pages of guidance.

• We have car parks at all of our offices for the use of clients while visiting the firm.

• We will always tell you what our services will cost you as soon as we can and keep you updated regularly.

• We can offer home appointments if needed.

• We offer a wide range of services which you may not need now, but please ask for details to keep on hand.

And lastly . . . please let us know what you thought of the service we gave and if and how we can improve it.