Changes to Home Information Packs

The progressive introduction of Home Information Pack requirements will be nearly complete in early April when further changes to the current system are introduced.

From that day the relaxation of the so called first day marketing provisions will cease and sellers will only be able to put their property on the market once they are able to supply their selling agent with a complete Home Information Pack.  The period of grace under which sellers are able to market their properties provided they can demonstrate they have ordered a Home Information Pack and which is in the process of being prepared will come to an end.

In addition, the Government will now require sellers to provide a completed Property Information Questionnaire as part of the Home Information Pack itself. These questionnaires are designed to supply in advance much of the information that would have been obtained by the buyers Solicitor during the Conveyancing process as part of what are known as pre-contract enquiries.

It will therefore be more critical than ever for sellers to contact their Solicitor as soon as possible after the decision has been made to sell the property in order to put the necessary arrangements in place and avoid delay with the marketing arrangements.  Estate Agents will no longer be prepared to offer a property for sale to the public until they can confirm a Home Information Pack is available.

Pengillys have a successful track record of producing Home Information Packs quickly and accurately on a cost effective basis and there is no reason to believe that the new regulations, whilst more onerous than the current requirements, should necessarily cause any delay once the decision to sell the property has been taken.  However, it is important that sellers realise they need to contact their Solicitor as soon as possible to set the wheels in motion.