Proposals to enhance Home Information Packs

A proposal to further enhance the home buying and selling process for consumers by presenting information in a simpler way up front in a Home Information Pack, has been announced.

A consultation is underway into including a Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) as a mandatory part of HIPs to improve the product for both buyers and sellers.

The questionnaire has been developed with the industry and is designed to provide information that is not only important for buyers to know but is also easy for sellers to provide without professional help. This will help reduce issues coming to light that delay or cause transactions to fail.

Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "Having the right information about a property at the beginning of the home buying process is essential if we are to reduce delays and cut down on wasted costs for both buyers and sellers.

"HIPs are an important first step in achieving greater efficiency and the Property Information Questionnaire will only improve on this, ensuring the buying and selling process is simpler for all."

The questionnaire would include information such as:

Building work carried out to the property;
Information on energy and utilities;
Details on parking arrangements;
Council tax banding.

The PIQ would be a simple form that is freely available to download from the Communities and Local Government and HIP provider websites.

If the consultation recommendations are accepted the new PIQ would become part of the HIP from 1 January 2009.

The quality of leasehold information provided in the HIP is also set to be improved. A consultation has begun into including more leasehold details in HIPs following recommendations by Ted Beardsall, deputy chief executive of HM Land Registry, who was asked to advise on leasehold information.

Leasehold information would also include details about the cost and use of leasehold property and a copy of the lease. At the moment a temporary provision only requires a copy of the lease to be included.

These changes will build on improvements already made to the home buying process. Earlier this year we announced we were working with the industry to improve the quality of services provided by property professionals, including ways of ensuring agents and HIP providers prepare the HIP as soon as possible so it is available to potential buyers early in the buying process.