New Regulations including Property Information Questionnaire announced

On the 8th December 2008, the Minister for Housing, Margaret Beckett, announced proposals to improve and simplify the consumer content of the Home Information pack (HIP).

From 6th April 2009 the pack will need to contain a Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) which will provide a summary of information about the property to help buyers make a decision about whether to view a property and ultimately whether to make an offer.

The PIQ will provide the buyers with a summary of information including:

• Utilities and Services
• Parking arrangements
• Storm, fire or flood damage information
• Alterations carried out to the property
• Access arrangements
• Service charges

For Leasehold properties, the PIQ will include a summary of the leasehold arrangements replacing previous requirement to obtain separate documents.

Further Changes

Delay in first day marketing:

The current provision to allow a property to be marketed without a HIP as long as the required documents have been commissioned and paid for and will be available within 28 days has now been extended until 5th April 2009.