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Sellers' frequently asked questions When do I have to provide a Home Information Pack? All properties marketed for sale from 14 December 2007 in England and Wales will need a Home Information Pack. The Pack includes an Energy Performance Certificate, containing advice on how to cut carbon emissions and fuel bills. Also included are documents such as a sale statement, searches and evidence of title. What goes in a Home Information Pack?The following compulsory documents must be included in a Home Information Pack: Home Information Pack Index Energy Performance Certificate Sale statement Standard searches Evidence of title Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate. You can also include other documents such as a Home Condition Report, an environmental or flood risk search and other information that would be of interest to a potential buyer as defined in the regulations.Who compiles Home Information Packs?Sellers can hire estate agents, solicitors, separate pack providers, or do it themselves.Are Home Information Packs required across the UK?No - only in England and WalesI'm selling my house privately - do I need a Home Information Pack?If you are marketing your property, even if it's just by putting a 'for sale' sign in the window, you need a Pack. Sales where no marketing takes place (e.g. to a member of the family) won't need a Pack.Who pays for the Pack?The seller is responsible for the cost of a Home Information Pack. The cost of the Pack is down to the market, but sellers will often be able to defer costs until late in the sale.How will I pay for the Pack?This depends on the agreement between the seller and the compiler of the Pack. Some examples of the ways that Packs might be paid for are as follows: Seller pays for the Pack upfront from estate agent, solicitor or Pack provider Seller compiles the Pack and pays each organisation for the relevant component (e.g. the Land Registry for the title document) Estate agent offers the Pack to the seller on a 'no sale, no fee' basis, where the cost of the Pack could be included in the estate agent's commission Estate agent offers the Pack to the seller on a 'buy now, pay on completion' basis, which is usually a credit agreement for three or six months between the seller and the organisation compiling the pack. These are only indications of payment models; the Pack regulations do not prescribe any particular payment method.Do I have to put electrical certificates in my Pack?Electrical certificates (past or present) are not a required component of the Pack, but can be included if the seller has them.I've lost guarantees of work I have had done - what do I do?Don't worry - guarantees aren't a required component of the Pack, but can be included if you have them.Should the pack include a Home Condition Report?A Home Condition Report could help you sell your property more quickly if it shows that it is in good condition, or if it highlights any problems straight away for potential buyers, it can avoid nasty surprises for buyers later in the process |