Home Information Packs

In a bid to change the current “wasteful” home buying and selling process, Home Information Packs will be introduced in England and Wales from 2007 to give buyers more information about properties from the start of the process.

For too long now, buyers and sellers have not had access to key information when making their initial decisions and have often had to negotiate without important facts that only become apparent later in the process and thus cause the buying and selling chain to break down.

Home Information Packs, which will be available from mid 2006 before becoming compulsory in 2007, will make this entire process a lot clearer by making the key information available from the start.

The packs will benefit the buying and selling process by enabling people to be better prepared before they make decisions and negotiate terms, supplying information in an understandable format, reducing frustration and stress, and cutting wasted costs through the reduction of the high rates of failed transactions.

Home Information Packs will include details such as the results of standard searches for environmental problems like contamination or subsidence, planning consents, agreements and building control certificates, warranties and guarantees for damp proofing, boiler maintenance and double glazing, and an energy efficient assessment.

Final plans are still being made for the introduction of Home Information Packs, but it is thought they will be compiled by an estate agent, although you will probably be able to get them done privately too.