Optional
/ Authorised
The
optional parts of a Home Information Pack (known as 'authorised' documents)
include the following:
Home
Condition Reports
A
Home Condition Report contains information about the physical condition of a
property, which sellers, buyers and lenders will be able to rely on legally as
an accurate report.
The
Report is an important part of the Pack, and can be included by sellers on a
voluntary basis.
Sellers
who provide a Report will have an early opportunity to carry out repair work on
the property or obtain quotes prior to marketing.
Buyers
can use it at the beginning of the home-buying process to minimise the
possibility of being faced with unexpected repair bills and other surprises.
Lenders
can benefit by using the Reports to inform their valuations, reducing the need
to repeat a detailed on-site inspection at the buyer's expense.
The
Government believes there will be significant benefits to home sellers if they
top up their Packs to include full Home Condition Reports, and that this is a
product that the market can deliver. Communities and Local Government is working
with stakeholders to facilitate the voluntary take-up of the full Report, and
has invested resources in promoting and developing it for consumers. You can see
a sample of a Home Condition Report on our Publications
page.
Home Inspectors responsible for preparing Home Condition Reports will hold a
qualification at NVQ Level 4 (equivalent to degree level), and will require
in-depth knowledge and practical understanding of residential building
construction and defects across a range of properties as set out in the approved
National Occupational Standards for Home Inspectors. You can find out more about
the standards on our industry site.
Legal
Summary
Home
Information Packs will contain some complex documents that can be difficult to
understand. The optional summary of the legal content of the pack could
therefore be very helpful to buyers, although it will not remove the need for
buyers to take their own legal advice as well.
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