As part and parcel of the Housing Act 2004 it will become a requirement, from 1st June 2007, to produce a Home Information Pack for any residential property being brought to the market.

This is designed to provide all information on the property from the outset in the hope of speeding up the conveyancing process. In reality this is highly unlikely and will only create more work for professionals which in turn will cost vendors more money and delay in property being brought to the market. So what is involved?

A home condition report, produced by a qualified home inspector, will need to be presented from the outset with sales particulars. It will be very similar to the old home buyers report, often prepared as part and parcel of a mortgage valuation/inspection, and will rate, on a level of 1-3 (with 1 being good and 3 being bad) the condition of all aspects of the property from its structure to services and external areas.

Once produced, the report cannot be amended and remains active for three months in which time the property must be put to the open market. Thereafter the report will stand and remain for as long as it takes for the property to be sold.

One major concern is that, subject to remedial action being undertaken by the seller after the report, it will not necessarily note any improvements and repairs with interested parties rather taking as read the condition of the property at the point of considering particulars.

With seven fairly sizeable sections, photographs, plans, additional comments, etc, these could prove bulky documents which might only be available for viewing at the relevant Estate Agents office. If a structural flaw is found this is unlikely to avoid the need for a further structural survey, as required by a mortgagor, and this brings into question the need for the whole process at all.

If you would like to discuss this or any other aspect of this legislation, which will affect you if you are intending to sell your property, then please do not hesitate to contact us.