HIPs (Home Infomation Packs)

Home Information Packs are a government initiative aimed at making home buying and selling a more efficient and transparent process. They consist of a set of documents that the seller needs to prepare containing searches, copies of the deeds, and information regarding its energy efficiency.

As with most government initiatives, the intentions are good but the implementation is not quite so rosy. Many industry commentators see them as an added layer of bureaucracy with little benefit to the buyer, as the proposals have been so watered down so as to make them less effective than originally intended.

However, they were gradually phased in during 2007, and it is now compulsory for all properties marketed for sale in England and Wales to have a HIP.

For more information, have a look at the official government website:
http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk

There are also some private websites that sell services connected with HIPS preparation:
http://www.hipsdirect.com
http://www.firsthips.com