An Inspector Calls?

Beset by delays since its unveiling in the Housing Act 2004, the age of the much vaunted, much derided, Home Information Pack ('HIP') has finally arrived. Sarah Richards and Hilary Harrison consider the roles of the home inspector and the domestic energy assessor, the new breeds of professional created under the HIP regime.

Back to the Beginning

From its inception, the purpose of the HIP has been 'to improve the process of buying and selling a home' (Department for Communities and Local Government "DCLG"). Anyone marketing a property is required to provide key information in the initial stages of selling that property. The information consists of that found within the usual searches obtained by the buyer (thereby transferring the costs burden to the seller) but also a new report on the physical condition of the property, a Home Condition Report (HCR).

Failure to Launch

The government had planned the launch for 1 June 2007, when it would be compulsory for all houses put up for sale in England and Wales to have a HIP. However, a shortage of home inspectors and an unprecedented move by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors ('RICS') to commence Judicial Review proceedings against the DCLG for its failure to consult properly prior to implementing legislation to bring in HIPs, led to a revision of the proposals.

1 August 2007 saw phase one of the introduction of the HIP, as they became compulsory for every home marketed with four or more bedrooms. The second phase of the rolling-out process began on 10 September 2007, when the scheme was extended to homes marketed with three bedrooms. As of 14 December 2007, all one and two bedroom properties require a HIP.

What's in a HIP?

In a change from the original proposals, the contents of a HIP is now divided into two categories:

'required' i.e. compulsory documents; and

'authorised' i.e. optional documents

The 'required' documents include an index, a sale statement, standard searches and evidence of title. An altogether new document falling into the 'required' category is the Energy Performance Certificate ('EPC'). The EPC provides an energy rating for a home, ranking the energy efficiency of a property from A-G, band A being the most fuel efficient. EPCs can be prepared by either a home inspector or a domestic energy assessor.

All other documents fall into the 'authorised category'. Another change to the original proposals is that the HCR is now only an optional part of the HIP.

The HCR is an...