September 2007
Home Information Packs now required for a Home with 3 or more Bedrooms.
Land Check provided in pack is not trusted.
Some of the largest Mortgage Lenders say they will insist that homebuyers would have to pay up to £200 for their own local authority searches because those provided in the home seller's packs are not necessarily under-written by a solicitor, and would not carry sufficient insurance. In some circumstances solicitors are refusing to underwrite personal land searches and are charging buyers or sellers a further £150 to £200.
HIP from 1 August 2007.
ALL PROPERTIES WITH 4 BEDROOMS OR MORE require a HOME INFORMATION PACK.
Home Information Packs every home in England and Wales requires this sellers pack or be liable to a £200 fixed penalty fine by trading standards officers.
Around two million homes go on the market every year around 4,500 assessors take part for this scheme giving an energy performance certificate provided by the vendor before the property can be sold.
The 25 page questionnaire will demand minute details of the property.
During the 45 minute checks inspectors will look at everything from the loft and how thick your insulation is.
They will go into every room and at the end of the survey home owners will be issued with a certificate grading their property’s energy efficiency from
A to G.
What the inspectors will do
- Check how many rooms habitable
- Check excessive window area
- Check whether the cooker has auto ignition or pilot light
- Categorise type of insulation
- Check type of heating system
- Check low energy lights
- Check for green devices
- Check make of boiler regulations & emissions.
- Count number of open fires
- Check double glazed windows.
- Measure roof insulation at joist level
- Check the main walls are brick-granite-sandstone- timber frame.
“Home Information Packs” will provide home buyers with proper energy information about the homes to tackle climate change.
“Home Condition Reports” will be strictly controlled and restricted to sellers and purchasers.
"Enviromental Search"
Enviromental Search this Postcode search will tell you want land your dream home is built on.
Is it built on an old tin mine shaft - an old brickworks - is the land contaminated - this type of ENVIROMENTAL SEARCH may put a different light on that property for sale. Seek professional advice.
Eco - Friendly homeowners may get an increase in value of their property by installing eco-friendly measures.Energy saving solar panels and wind turbines will become a common feature on homes and potential buyers will come to expect an enviromentally-friendly home according to research.Green campaigners hope the increase in value of homes will encourage thousands to make their properties carbon neutral.Investing in eco-friendly technology and choosing energy from renewable sources will be a great way to ensure that your house stands out from the rest.Houses run on renewable power are going to be in great demand.Its becoming very desirable to flaunt your green credentials these days.Builders must wise up to the new measures and learn how to build "green" or risk going bust we face the prospect of a complete re-think on design-and some would not say before time.
Energy Efficiency Regulations
Get a Pressure Test Engineer to carry out a survey on your "NEW BUILD" DREAM HOME it checks the draughts around the property the reading level should be 10 if its above this reading the property fails, and you will spend more on fuel bills.Look out for holes in the fabric of the building behind radiators etc letting in draughts.
Wind Turbines - Micro Turbines that claim they will generate 30 per cent of the household electricity need to be in the right working enviroment to meet these claims,located away from trees obstructions on a hill top, no wind no gain, no electricity.
So who can cross your "DOOR STEP" in your own home.
OFFICIALS with out permission.
"EMERGENCY SERVICES"
POLICE - FIRE BRIGADE AMBULANCE - Police can also ask a court for a warrant to search for evidence or seize property associated with a crime.
"GAS ELECTRICITY WATER"
Officials can force entry if they believe there is a danger to life or property, such as gas leak.They can apply for a magistrate's warrant to enter to inspect a meter if a home owner has refused entry.
"COUNCIL TAX"
A local council assessor may enter any property to carry out a survey to decide the tax band.It is an offence under the local goverment finance act
1992 to obstruct entry with a fine up to £250-00.
"PLANNING"
A council official can enter when dealing with planning applications or investigating whether un-permitted development has occurred. It is an offence to prevent access with a £500 maximum penalty.
"SEARCH ORDERS"
Local councils can seek a magistrates order to break in,search and seize eveidence,often in cases involving pirate goods such as DVD's and CD's.
"MENTAL HEALTH"
A social worker may inspect any premises to be sure a mentally -ill person is being properly cared for.
"PETS AND VERMIN"
Councils can break in to remove an infestation.
"BAILIFFS"
Where current regulations may change.
The Law requires all home's put on the market to have a "HOME INFORMATION PACK" Included is a rating of the home's energy efficiency and recommendations that could help CO2 emissions and fuel bills.
"ELECTRICITY IN THE ENVIROMENTLY FRIENDLY HOME"
The "Electricity Meter" that tells you how much it costs to leave a light on are now available across the country.The smart meter shows how much energy has been used and how much it costs over a set period for example the last half hour.Normally meters are hidden away in cupboards but these monitors act as a constant reminder.People want to do their bit to help protect the enviroment,if they can save money at the same time,all the better.Visual display units provided free of charge will help people do both.
CHECK IT OUT - CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.
[ www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk ]
"TheAdvisory - (Selling Property & Using Estate Agents) - Independent advice for UK property sellers.
