Derwent-Head Home Energy Advice

a) Home Information Pack required ordering information

You will need to know if your property is freehold, leasehold or something different. The majority of properties are freehold or leasehold but there are some other alternatives. If you don't know already I will help you by looking up the Land Registry website to check if this information is given. This is important because it affects which documents are required in the Home Information Pack and so can affect the price.

You also need to know if your property is registered with the Land Registry, the majority of properties are these days but it is important to know as it affects the documents used to show proof of ownership and so affects the costs of producing the pack. If you don't know already I will help you by looking up the Land Registry website to check if this information is given.

If your property is leasehold you will need to know the start date of the lease, how many years it is for and any details to do with the lease that might be significant to a buyer. If you have a flat in a block of flats with an agent involved in the maintenance of any common parts of a building, then the detail of any annual charges paid to them is required.

b) Ordering a Home Information Pack

I will check with you about the information above and also check that you are intending to start marketing your property within the next three months. Also please let me know if you already have a valid Energy Performance Certificate i.e. less than three years old. I will arrange to come and visit as soon as it is convenient for you and ask you to fill in a simple form with your contact and address details as well as details of your Estate Agent. This form also includes some basic questions about the property which are included in the sale statement of the Home Information Pack. These confirm you are the owner, that you are selling the whole property and that it is with vacant possession.

I will also give you a copy of the Property Information Questionnaire to fill in but this can be posted to me later if you prefer. If possible I will carry out the survey for the Energy Performance Certificate during this same visit.

Payment can be by cheque to myself, by cheque direct to Hips Homes Ltd (trading company of Hip2Go) or by Debit/Credit card using the Hip2Go secure online system or over the telephone. If you are happy to pay by cheque to myself I have an account with Hip2Go so there is no delay starting the work. Alternatively if you prefer to pay by Debit/Credit card please visit the website www.hip2view.com, enter the property ID provided and your property postcode then follow the on-line instructions. There is also a 9 month deferred payment option available, please enquire for more details. Once under way you will be able to check on the progress of your pack by going to the same website as above and entering the same ID and postcode.

c) Timescales for a Home Information Pack order and what you receive.

An electronic copy of an interim Home Information Pack, sufficient by the HIP regulations to allow you to start marketing your property, will be available to you as quickly as possible, normally within two or three days. This is without the searches and other documents such as a copy of the lease (if applicable). These normally take longer to produce and can be added within 28 days of the first day of marketing.

It typically takes between ten and fifteen working days to finalise the HIP, it can be quicker but can also take longer, particularly depending on how quickly the Local Authority complete their search. Once the Pack is complete you and your Estate Agent will have access to a final electronic pdf copy and a printed copy is supplied as standard. If you don't require this printed copy there is a price reduction of £8. I also provide a secure electronic pdf copy on a CD.

Key phrases for this webpage: HIP packs in Gateshead, Home Information Packs in Gateshead, Home Information Pack, Ordering a Home Information Pack.