Home Information Packs & Property Searches

In this section:

Home Information Packs (applicable to residential properties only)
Enquiries of the Local Authority (Local Land Charges Register/Local Enquiries)
Personal Search Enquiries (Local Land Charges Register/Local Enquiries)

Home Information Packs (HIPs)

Since 14th December 2007 every home put on the market in England and Wales, no matter what size, must have a Home Information Pack. A HIP brings together valuable information at the start of the home-buying process including:

Standard searches (* see below)
Energy Performance Certificate
Sale statement
Evidence of title
Additional information for leasehold and commonhold sales (where appropriate)
Certificate (or interim certificate) showing the home’s rating in respect of the Code for Sustainable Homes or a nil-rated certificate showing that the home has only been designed to meet current Building Regulations (newly built homes only)

* Standard searches

Enquiries of the Local Authority

(Records held by the Leicestershire Borough/District Councils and Leicestershire County Council)

These must include the results of a search of:

The local land charges register relating to the property being sold, after which you will receive an official search certificate.

- This information can be requested from the relevant Borough/District Council using Form LLC1

Other records held by the Borough/District/County Council on matters of interest to buyers, such as planning decisions and road building proposals. These are referred to as local enquiries in the HIP regulations.
- This information can be requested from the relevant Borough/District Council using Form CON29R – Required Enquiries of the Local Authority (2007) Edition. Additional enquiries, which are not required in a HIP, such as public rights of way information and common land/village green searches, can be requested using Form CON29O - Optional Enquiries of the Local Authority (2007) Edition. The Borough/District Council will liaise directly with the County Council on behalf of the applicant for the relevant CON29 enquiries to which the County Council responds.

The provision of drainage and water services to the property. The local water company (Severn Trent Water) or a personal search company can be used (however, the search must comply with the HIP regulations).

The County Council has a dedicated team who are trained to interpret the highway records and provide a comprehensive response to Borough/District Council local search enquiries and who are in constant contact with those responsible for the proposals, in order that the most up to date, first hand information, is made available. For specific prices please contact the relevant Borough/District Council.

If you are buying a home, make sure your estate agent shows you the Home Information Pack. You have a right to see it and doing so can save time and money. HIPs provide key information needed by buyers and sellers at the very start of the home-buying process, making transactions more efficient and less likely to fall through between offer and exchange. HIP documents give consumers a clear, up front picture of what they are buying and selling.

For more information in addition to that given above, please visit the official Home Information Packs website at: www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk

Further information about Local Authority Search Enquiries including contact details for the Leicestershire Borough/District Councils.

Personal Search Enquiries

Enquiries in respect of highway information can also be made directly to the County Council.