Consumers must get greatest benefit from Hips law; The much-heralded home information packs have been in place for nearly a year. David Askew believes they are good news.

Byline: David Askew 

THE Government decided last summer to roll out Hips in three phases - firstly for houses of four bedrooms or more on August 1, 2007, secondly houses with three bedrooms on September 10 and the final phase of the roll-out was for properties with two bedrooms or less from December 14.

The current position is that a property can be marketed without a complete Hip in place as long as the required elements have been commissioned and either paid for, or payment is agreed.

The only element that needs to be completed before a property can be marketed is the Energy Performance Certificate. This is due to change on December 31, after which a complete Hip will have to be in place. A Hip has to contain three basic elements: Official details of the seller's ownership - title information. This will include a plan showing the boundary of the property.

Local searches. A standard Hip will contain a local authority search and a drainage and water search commonly known as CON29DW (2007).

The CON29DW(2007) detail includes: If the property is connected to sewerage and/or water supply network.

Whether a private sewer or water main is subject to an adoption agreement.

The existence of a building over sewer agreement.

Details of service issues including whether the property is at risk of sewer flooding or at risk of receiving low water pressure.

Details of water quality issues such as lead pipes within the distribution network.

Charging arrangements including meter location and the basis of charging on change of occupancy.

Distance to the nearest sewerage treatment works.

A complaints procedure detailing any guarantees, as well as who's liable for negligence or redress.

An energy performance certificate detailing the property's energy efficiency in an easy to read diagram.

These are the required documents and the Hip can also include what are known as "authorised documents". More often than not these will be left to the buyer and their solicitor to obtain and include searches such as Coal Authority Mining reports, flooding reports, environmental reports and ChancelCheck reports.

At present, a Hip will cost from about pounds 295 +VAT, depending on who supplies it you may pay up front or on a deferred basis.

Estate agents can obtain the Hip on your behalf, but they are available from various sources - your solicitor may supply a Hip at a competitive price, but some people produce their own.

The latest figures show consumers are benefiting from Hips. More than 700,000 homes have energy ratings as a result, helping homeowners save money on their fuel bills and cut carbon emissions. Hips will make a difference if they are competitively priced, produced quickly and can be accessed easily by potential buyers, they should also benefit the conveyancing process.

There is talk of "exchange ready" Hips, including information needed to complete a property transaction.

I think it is important to give the consumer the maximum benefit from this legislation.

David Askew is the general manager of Northumbrian Water Property Solutions, an operating arm of Northumbrian Water, tel: [phone] or go to www.nwpropertysolutions.co.uk