To put your house on the market it is mandatory that you complete a home information pack, or HIP. Sellers should have a complete HIP available to all possible buyers the first day a property is put on the market. HIP’s should contain all required documents and may contain other optional documents that could speed up the sale because buyers are more informed and at ease to buy. Who wants to be half way through a sale or purchase when new information changes the course of the process or puts it at a dead halt?

Required Documents

• Home Information Packet Index
• Property Information Questionnaire
• Predicted Energy Assessment or Energy Performance Certificate
• Sustainability information (for newly built houses)
• Evidence of title
• Sale statement
• Local authority and drainage and water searches
• a copy of the lease for leasehold properties

Optional Documents

• Home use/contents form
• Legal summary
• Home Condition Report
• Specialist searches

How much does an HIP cost?
For the buyers, it must be available free of charge or may pay for copying and postage. The sellers can get a packet from their estate agent, a solicitor or licensed conveyor, an HIP provider, or compile it themselves in which the prices vary.
           
Here is a list of HIP providers by area:
http://www.the-hip-site.co.uk/hip-information/Hip-Providers-Areal-Listing.html
           
When looking to find someone compile your HIP make sure they are signed up to the HIP code and always check the terms and conditions of the contract to protect yourself from any legal problems in the selling process.
           
For help in compiling the HIP yourself go here:

When should an HIP be provided?
As a buyer, you should request an HIP and the seller should provide you with a complete HIP within 14 days. You should check to see if the HIP has all of the required documents.
There are certain circumstances where the seller does not necessarily need to provide an HIP. For example, if the seller believes the buyer isn’t really interested in the property, could not afford the property or is a person that the seller does not wish to sell to. However, discrimination of someone due to race, sex, religion, or ethnicity is illegal.
Also, certain types of properties do not need an HIP. These are:

• Non-residential properties
• Mixed properties, for example a shop with an apartment
• The sale of multiple properties together
• Unsafe or due to be demolished properties
• Properties sold to family members
• Properties limited by law to be used for less than 11 months of the year
• Properties with sitting tenant or otherwise not completely vacant
• Properties sold through home ownership schemes like “Right to Buy”, “Right to Acquire”, or “Social HomeBuy”

More Info on HIPs

More Info on HIPS link-Click here

Download a sample HIP
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/samplehomeinfopack.pdf