The Home Information Pack contains important information that buyers and sellers need to know. From 1 August 2007, anyone marketing a property, or their representative, will be legally required to have a Home Information Pack and make it available to potential buyers of the property.

For sellers, providing a Pack upfront should reduce the likelihood of any nasty surprises in the selling process that could delay the sale, as buyers will be able to make more informed decisions about purchasing their home.

For buyers, the Pack provides essential information about properties they are considering buying, free of charge.

What does a Pack contain?

Compulsory documents ('Required')

• Home Information Pack Index
• Energy Performance Certificate
• Sale statement
• Standard searches
• Evidence of title
• Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales, where appropriate.

Optional documents ('Authorised')

• Home Condition Report
• Legal summary
• Home use/contents forms
• Other documents

If certain documents (i.e. searches, evidence of title for unregistered home and leasehold/commonhold information) cannot be obtained in time, sellers can start marketing with a Pack that includes an?index,?sale statement, evidence of title and an Energy Performance Certificate only. However, the seller must be able to show that the?missing items?have been commissioned, and are expected to arrive as soon as practicable - certainly no later than 28 days of the property being put on the market.