HIPS Update 03/03/08

On 14 December 2007 the requirement for all homeowners marketing a residential property in England and Wales was extended to cover all properties put on the market from that date.

The only exceptions are:

• a private sale where the property is not offered on the open market
• the property is in mixed use with commercial property
• the property is sold with sitting tenants and not available for owner occupation
• the property is a part of a portfolio of residential properties
• right to buy sales
• the property is a newbuild property built to Building Regulations 2006 (Regulation 17C, Part L) or later (only until 6 April 2008)

Sellers must commission a HIP before they can put their property on the market, but have a 28 day window for it to be finalised.

The Law Society has recently warned home owners to be vigilant with HIPs and is urging sellers to use a solicitor after the Government raised the alarm that some “rogue” HIP providers are putting the wrong documents in the packs.

Please note that we can prepare your HIP for you. For further details, please contact Lucy Worrall on 0161 827 7170 or

Housing Associations – email and ask for our HIPS summary and response to the most frequently asked questions by Housing Associations.