Home information pack

The Home Information Pack is a radical change to the system of selling residential properties in England and Wales; which is notoriously slow and traumatic for many concerned. Commencing on June 1, 2007, before home owners can put their properties on the market they, or their estate agent, must first prepare a pack containing all the legal details such as copy title deeds, lease, searches etc plus a detailed survey of the property carried out by a qualified Home Inspector. Any offers made by potential buyers will be made with most faults declared thus avoiding shocks later requiring re-negotiation or frequently cancellation of the sale before contracts are exchanged.

The property industry has been largely against these changes but it was felt by the government, and most of the public, that any change in the house buying process can only be a change for the better.

For more information regarding Home Information Pack please follow the Sellers pack for more information.

Time Table Introduced by the ODPM for introduction of Home Information Packs:

Key points in the timeline include:

- March 2006 - Government go ahead for multiple certification schemes, meaning lower set up costs for industry and robust standards set by Government to ensure quality Home Inspectors and a trusted, objective Home Condition Report for consumers. A number of organisations who are interested in running certification schemes have already come forward and the Government is considering their proposals. Over 3,000 people are already going through training for the Home Inspector qualification;

- April 2006 - Government launch HIP publicity campaign to industry and details of a three-phased product launch and dry run will be published; - June 2006 - draft regulations are made setting out the detailed contents of Home Information Packs, rules governing the availability of packs, exceptions from the pack duties and arrangements for enforcement; - June 2006 - June 2007, a three phase approach to product testing - that builds up to Government and industry testing across all aspects of the process, involving estate agents, solicitors, pack providers, lenders and others who play a part in delivering Home Information Packs to consumers, from ensuring that certification schemes are up and running, so that Home Inspectors can register Home Condition Reports, to offering voluntary packs to consumers in advance of mandatory implementation. The Summer of 2006 will also see the launch of a series of geographical industry led trials;

- September 2006 - Government approve the first Certification Schemes to oversee the work of Home Inspectors. The schemes will be set up and run by industry. Government will set the standards that the schemes will operate. In September the Home Condition Report Register contract will be agreed. A fully operational register will follow as soon as possible afterwards;

- November 2006 - June 2007 - product testing continues with phase two and three leading the programme into implementation on June 1st. By now, lenders will be able to use information from the Home Condition Report for valuation purposes, resulting in less on site valuation and costs savings for consumers;

-March 2007 Review of the outcomes of the final phase of the product launch make final adjustments ready for going live 1 June 2007 The detail of the timeline will be further developed in partnership with industry and be continuously updated.

- April 2007 - public awareness publicity campaign is launched

Home Inspectors
The reforms include the need for training and insurance as well as continuing development (CPD/LLL) of Home Inspectors. Home Inspectors are required to complete the ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection to show they meet the standards set out for NVQ/VRQ competence based assessment (Level 4). There are at this time nearly 3,000 candidates who have registered with training and assessment centres. The government have suggested that between 7,500 and 8,000 qualified and Licenced Home Inspectors will be needed to meet the annual demand of nearly 1,000,000 home information packs.

Inspectors will have to carry some form of insurance. Currently (July 2006), no insurance is available to a Home Inspector that is not already a member of a professional body. There is also no official scheme for consumers if an Inspector is not properly insured and there is a problem with an inspection which a buyer has relied upon. This aspect is under review by Yvette Cooper and the government as it needs to be resolved before the 1 June 2007. Some consider that HIPs may go live without the Inspectors report until insurance and a properly regulatory body is established to supervise Inspectors.

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