You do not need a Home Information Pack (HIPS) for:

• Properties where there is no marketing (e.g. sale to member of your family)
• Non-residential properties
• Seasonal and holiday accommodation
• Mixed sales (e.g. shop with flat)
• Right to buy and similar sales
• Sales of portfolios of properties
• Properties not being sold with completely vacant possession
• Unsafe properties and properties to be demolished.
• Properties already on the market when the duty to have a Pack arises (1 August 2007 for sales of homes with 4 bedrooms or more, and 10 September 2007 for sales of homes with 3 bedrooms or more) 

The Home Information Pack contains important information that buyers and sellers need to know.

For Buyers: find out how to get a Pack, and what questions to ask when you receive one.

For Sellers: find out how to commission a Pack or compile one yourself and what to look out for.

Benefits to buyers and sellers
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 - and reduces the chance of unwelcome surprises later on in the process.