Home Moving Made Easy

What will my HIP contain?

Compulsory Documents

- Home Information Pack Index
- Energy Performance Certificate
- Sale Statement
- Standard Searches
- Evidence of Title

1 Home Information Pack Index
The Home Information Pack Index provides a checklist for sellers, buyers, estate agents and enforcement authorities.

Where a document that must be included in the Pack is unavailable, the Index must say so, give the reason it is missing, and indicate what steps are being taken to obtain it. Where documents are added to or removed from the Pack at a later stage, the Index should be revised accordingly.

2 Energy Performance Certificate
Energy Performance Certificates tell you how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes - which should have the lowest fuel bills - are in band A.
The average property in the UK is in Bands D-E for both ratings. Recommendations are included in the Certificate about ways to improve the home's energy efficiency to save you money and help the environment.

Sellers of newly built homes will have to provide a predicted assessment of the energy efficiency of the property, but a full Energy Performance Certificate should be provided to the buyer when the home is completed.

3 Sale Statement
The sale statement should provide some basic information about the site, including:

• The name of the seller and the address of the
property being sold
• Whether the property is freehold, leasehold
or commonhold
• Whether the property is registered
or unregistered
• Whether or not the property is being sold with
vacant possession

For more information regarding home information packs, please click here

Why Were Home Information Packs Introduced?

One of the biggest complaints about the present system of buying and selling is that important information about the property only becomes available after terms have been negotiated and agreed. The result is that problems with the property are only revealed weeks into the transaction, by which time both parties may have incurred significant costs in legal fees, searches and surveys.

The aim of the Home Information Pack is to remove much of this uncertainty by providing key information upfront, so that buyers will be able to make a more informed decision, avoiding possible delays.

However the biggest benefit for both buyers and sellers will be the saving of over £350m in fees lost in failed transactions. First-time buyers get an added bonus – they will receive Home Information Packs for ‘free’, making it easier and less expensive for them to get their first foot onto the property ladder.

Habitus launches "Easipay" to help with the costs of moving home.

As house prices continue to increase and mortgage interest rates also look likely to be raised again, Habitus has launched their new "Easipay" finance plan to help homemovers. Using Easipay, homemovers don't have to pay any legal or survey  fees until 9 months after purchase. And its all interest free. The charge in 9 months time is exactly the same as they would pay today. So, they've moved in, set up their home and its a full 9 months before they have to pay a penny of these fees.

For anyone buying and selling a home, this could help them delay a sizeable bill for 9 months whilst they use the extra cash to fund all the other costs involved in moving home.

Habitus CEO Brendan Doyle says, “Right now house prices are still rising, as are the costs of mortgage repayments and that’s why we’ve decided to do our bit to help out. This ‘buy now-pay later’ offer on legal and survey fees will be particularly helpful to first-time buyers.”

Habitus are leading a revolution in the way people buy and sell their home. In one phone call, their ‘one-stop’ shop enables homemovers to arrange all the professional services they need, such as surveys, property searches conveyancing and Home Information Packs

A Habitus Home Moving Advisor manages and co-ordinates all of the Habitus professional services involved in the transaction at a local level: the Habitus surveyor and solicitor and the estate agent. It’s a hassle-free service with the aim of speeding up the whole process to completion.

Get a free online quote at www.habitus.co.uk or call 0800 634 3001 to speak to one of the Home Moving Advisors.

Types of survey

Homebuyer Survey & Valuation Report   Headline Building Survey   Full Building survey   

Many people think that a valuation carried out by their mortgage company is a survey. Well it isn't. It is undertaken for the benefit of the lender to ensure the property is worth the money they are lending. In most cases they will ask the borrower to pay for the valuation and they may provide a copy to the borrower. However, they will point out that the borrower should not rely on any of the contents of the valuation report.

That means the sensible thing is to get a survey you can rely on; one that will alert you to issues that could effect your enjoyment of the property.

Surveys are a kind of 'health check' for buildings. If you're buying a property, you should have a survey done before you enter into a contract. A survey can actually save you money. If there are serious structural problems, you can often re-negotiate the sale price of the property to reflect the cost of any necessary repairs or you may even decide you don't want to buy it at all.

This is an economy service designed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for the cost conscious home buyer. It will provide an overall opinion of the general condition of the property but does not offer additional useful features such as providing Guideline Budgets for any defects that may be identified.

However the survey will report on;

• Urgent matters that are a threat to the fabric of the building
• Significant matters which could affect the price of the property
• A market valuation of the property
• Rebuild costs for Insurance purposes

Get a free survey quote

The Headline Survey is a Building Survey that concentrates on serious structural defects and essential repairs which require attention within six months. Our surveyors will offer clear impartial opinion on what they find. They will explain how they reach their conclusions and provide reassurance that you are getting the best advice on the condition of the property.

There are also guideline budgets for any essential repairs identified and this may assist you in negotiating the sale, and help you plan and prioritise a maintenance and repair programme

This summary inspection reports on:

• Serious Structural Defects; defects that threaten the stability and safety of the structure
• Essential Repairs; repairs that require attention within six months
• Guideline Budgets for Serious Defects and Essential repairs
• Matters for your solicitor
• Rebuild Costs for Insurance Purposes

View a sample of a Headline Building Survey.

Full building survey

The Full Building Survey is just that. Its an extensive investigation of the property and results in a comprehensive report on the property condition presented in an easily readable, clearly presented format. In addition to containing all the elements of a Headline Survey it also reports on other repairs that, in the surveyors opinion require attention either now or at some time in the future to put the property into, or maintain it in, good condition for its age and type.

This detailed inspection reports on:

• Serious Structural Defects; defects that threaten the stability and safety of the structure
• Essential Repairs; repairs that require attention within six months
• Guideline Budgets for Serious Defects and Essential repairs
• Other repairs; defects that will require
• Matters for your solicitor
• Rebuild Costs for Insurance Purposes

View a sample of a Full Building Survey.

For more information on moving home, visit www.Habitus.co.uk today.

Social housing landlords today received new guidance to help them measure their success in tackling anti-social behaviour...

A toolkit, developed by HouseMark and the Social Landlords' Crime and Nuisance Group (SLCNG) for Communities and Local Government, offers practical help and advice on collecting, interpreting and using information.

The toolkit explains in easy to understand terms, the information that landlords should collect on anti-social behaviour in order to target their staff time and resources effectively.

It will also assist landlords in meeting the requirements of the Respect Standard for Housing Management and encourage even more landlords to sign up to the standard itself.

Tackling anti-social behaviour ‘key’

The guidance has been developed in close consultation with landlords and key national organisations. A panel of 28 practitioners, reflecting the range of different social landlords, has guided the development of the toolkit to ensure that it reflects the needs of the sector.

Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright MP said: "Tackling anti-social behaviour and helping to create a culture of Respect within our communities is a key part of a social landlord's responsibilities. This toolkit will help them measure and improve how well they perform this important job."

Steve Osborne, executive consultant at HouseMark and manager on the project said; "The Toolkit is a non-regulatory tool that sits well with the Cave reports recommendations for greater emphasis for housing provider self-assessment".

Peter Jackson, managing director at SLCNG said; "The toolkit has been produced in collaboration with members of HouseMark and SLCNG and will be even more relevant having been influenced by the views of front line staff"

Landlords rush to sign up

Over 350 social landlords have now signed-up to the Respect Standard in the 12 months since it was launched. Six out of ten social housing tenants, over 5 million residents, live in homes covered by the benchmark.

The Respect Standard for Housing Management: A Performance Improvement Toolkit for Landlords is available on the Communities and Local Government website (http://www.communities.gov.uk).

HouseMark and the SLCNG are running ten workshops focusing on the outcomes of action to tackle ASB from October to December 2007 - see http://www.housemark.co.uk for more information

For more propery news updates please visit Habitus.co.uk

Selling a home like buying one is a major transaction and probably one of the biggest you ever make. As you are selling a home the chances are you have probably bought it in the first place and therefore you have some insight into the world of property dealings. For many it can seem like crossing a minefield - and of course it is quite likely you're both buying and selling now.

If you are not only selling, but also looking to buy, we recommend that you put your house up for sale before you start looking for new properties. This will allow you to time the process much better and you will have a much better idea how quickly you can sell, and have a firm idea of the price range your new home.

But what ever the reason for you selling you home, whether your upgrading, downsizing, relocating, investing, or, even, acting as an executor of an estate, you will want to achieve the best possible price, to sell relatively quickly, and to enjoy a process that runs smoothly as possible.

Whilst selling, as with buying, can be a complex and drawn out affair, happily, most sales follow roughly the same pattern with clearly-defined stages. By taking time at the outset to understand the process, you can do much to help things move along.

Our guides below take you through the jargon and point out some pitfalls to look out for in the process. Just click the links below to find out more.

Choosing your estate agent
Different selling arrangements
Putting the property on the market
What are the likely costs?

Selling your home is one of life’s big dramatic events. For most people there certainly never seems to be enough hours in the day with all the forms to fill in, prospective purchasers trampling through your home and solicitors to chase.

All of this is enough to cause anyone’s stress levels to rise. But by visiting the Habitus web site you have already taken the first step in reducing both the cost and strain of selling your house.

Habitus Home Move Service

The "Habitus Home Move Service" is a unique one stop shop created by a team of Habitus solicitors local surveyors and other property professionals to make everything to do with your transaction run smoothly. At the heart of the Habitus Home Move Service there are teams of Habitus Home Moving Advisors who work through local Habitus offices for homebuyers and sellers. Your solicitor and your surveyor, all of whom are part of the Habitus network, will be working as a team to ensure that your conveyancing goes as smoothly as possible.

Your Habitus Home Moving Advisor will also be on hand to expertly manage your transaction, coordinating the work of all the professionals involved; from surveyors to solicitors, from search specialists to removal services. Your Habitus Home Moving Advisor will be on hand to keep you fully informed at every stage.

To help you along Habitus will even fund all your survey, search and legal fees for 9 months at 0% interest*

You can speak to our Home Moving Advisors who are available 7 days a week on Freephone 0800 634 3001, or if you prefer get an immediate Free Online Quote.

*Subject to status. Terms and Conditions apply.

It's also one of the biggest financial commitments you'll make in your life. Indeed as prices have exploded across Britain over the past five years, the costs and stress of home ownership have increased in equal measure. More than ever before, property means big money - your money.

For most people buying a home is a complicated maze from finding the best mortgage deal to locating your ideal home not to mention negotiating with agents though to dealing with surveyors and solicitors.

It will pay Habitus to seek the best advice possible from professional experts who really know what they are talking about, such as that from Habitus. We can help you make an informed decision on buying or selling your property.

It is important to have a good understanding of the process as it will help you avoid some of the pitfalls of home-buying.

Once you have found your ideal home which can take anything from a few days to many months,  the actual process from having your offer accepted to completion of the sale can up to 12 weeks.

At Habitus we have prepared a series on online guides to the home-buying process to help you understand how it all works and guide you through the maze. The Habitus guides for buying a home are:

Choosing your property
Checking the condition
Types of ownership
From offer to moving in

Once you have read the guides you should have a better understanding of the Home Buying process but remember that Habitus is here to help on any aspect of buying and selling a home. If you have any questions you can put them to our panel of surveyors, solicitors and other home moving experts. The answer will be emailed to you within 3 working days. Visit our free Ask the Expert Service here.

Whist the process of buying a home may be stressful; by visiting the Habitus web site you have already taken the first positive step in reducing both the cost and strain of selling your home.

The "Habitus Home Move Service" is a unique one stop shop specifically created by a team of

Habitus solicitors local surveyors and other property professionals to make everything to do with your transaction run smoothly. At the heart of the Habitus Home Move Service there are teams of
Habitus Home Moving Advisors who work through local Habitus offices for homebuyers and sellers. Your solicitor and your surveyor, all of whom are part of the Habitus network, will be working as a team to ensure that your conveyancing goes as smoothly as possible.

Your Habitus Home Moving Advisor will also be on hand to expertly manage your transaction, coordinating the work of all the professionals involved; from surveyors to solicitors, from search specialists to removal services. Your Habitus Home Moving Advisor will be on hand to keep you fully informed at every stage.

To help you along Habitus will even fund all your survey, search and legal fees for 9 months at 0% interest*

You can speak to our Home Moving Advisors who are available 7 days a week on Freephone 0800 634 3001, or if you prefer get an immediate Free Online Quote.

*Subject to status. Terms and Conditions apply.

The rule "buyer beware" places on the buyer the burden of discovering any physical faults in a property being purchased.

For this reason alone a survey is always a good idea in order to discover any problems which are not visible when you view the property. Indeed the best way to reach an informed decision on such an important investment as buying a home is to have a professional survey and valuation of the property.

All lenders require a basic valuation but this is for their benefit only. Your lender will send a specialist valuer to work out how much the property’s worth so they can decide whether to give you a mortgage or not. The lenders valuation answers only the lender's questions concerning the security of your loan.

You cannot rely on it to answer the questions which concern your interests as to the condition of the property. When the valuer visits the property they are only concerned with problems that might affect the security of the loan and not whether the property has any structural problems such as subsidence or dry rot for example.

Which?, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and Habitus advise that you to get a survey before you buy a property. A survey not only offers peace of mind, but could potentially save you thousands of pounds in costly repair bills in the future.

Commissioning your own survey is a simple and economical way to avoid unpleasant and often costly surprises after moving in. Indeed the Habitus report may even enable you to renegotiate the price.

It is important that before you decide to go ahead and commit yourself legally to the purchase that your RICS Habitus Surveyor answers the following questions for you.

• Is the agreed price reasonable?
• Are there problems with the property?
• If there are any, what do I need to do about them and how much might they cost to put right.

Habitus surveyors, who are all members (MRICS) and Fellows (FRICS) of RICS provide three types of survey which are specifically designed to help homebuyers. Importantly all our Surveyors are local to the property, are members of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and carry £10 million professional indemnity cover.

To assist you we have provide some helpful online guides on the different types of building surveys and how to choose the correct type of survey for your property.

At Habitus we believe that no two house or clients requirements are identical. Our team of Home Moving Advisors will provide you with no obligation advice on the type of survey required in your individual circumstances. You can speak to a Home Moving Advisor on Freephone 0800 634 3001 and they are available 7 days a week or click here for a free online quote.

Alternatively you can submit a question to our free ask the expert service.

Buying a home can be like trying to find your way through a legal, financial and administrative maze and is likely to be the biggest single financial transaction you make. That’s why it is important to have sound professional advice and a solicitor on board as early in the process as possible. There are many pitfalls. Buying a home is not like buying a car. If you are selling you need to be certain that there are no comebacks later; if you are buying you require good title and no unexpected problems or liabilities further down the track. Your Habitus Solicitor is there to protect your interests.

Habitus Legal has prepared two online guides explaining the legal aspects of buying and selling your home. These brief guides, although not exhaustive, explain the conveyancing process and answer some of the questions you may have. We hope they help you to understand the process.

Your Habitus Legal team has also prepared a set of frequently asked questions and a “Jargon Buster” to explain the terminology used in the conveyancing process.

If you have any questions on any aspect of buying or selling a home please do not hesitate to ask our panel of experts.

If you would like a free no obligation quotation for the Habitus Home Move Service just click here.

From 1st August 2007, the Government changed the way we buy and sell property with the introduction of Home Information Packs. These should speed up the whole process and reduce some of the stress involved in home moving. To find out more about Home Information Packs read about it here.

At the heart of our Habitus local office is a team of Home Moving Advisors, Solicitors, Chartered Surveyors, Energy Assessors, Home Inspectors and Estate Agents.

Your local Habitus office is supported by the resources of the largest independent network of property professionals including a central Customer Services Team operating from our National
Customer Centre, providing you with support 7 days a week. Our Home Moving Advisors are available 7 days a week and you can speak to one right now on 0800 634 3001 , or if you prefer get an immediate free Online Quote.

Your local Home Moving Advisor can visit you in your home or at your estate agents office and will act as your single point of contact, expertly managing the transaction, organising and coordinating the work of your local Habitus surveyors, lawyers and property professionals and keeping you and your Agent fully informed.

Habitus is a fast growing, national independent network of over 800 local property professionals including solicitors, surveyors, home inspectors and estate agents who are singularly dedicated to making the whole moving experience simple and pleasurable for the consumer.

Serving the people of England and Wales we combine our expert local knowledge with the support and strength of the Habitus network - one of the UK's largest and longest established national networks of property professionals.