Pre-Purchase Property Inspections

Since Summer 2006 we have seen an increasing demand from house buyers for pre-purchase inspections on the properties they are purchasing, whether it’s for their home or for a buy-to-let. Buyers are getting the reassurance of objective inspections from The Power Service, knowing they can rely on the quality of our independent inspectors with a wealth of experience in our field. Our fully qualified engineers can carry out inspections and provide reports to Corgi and the NICEIC standards. Increasingly, surveyors’ reports are also recommending that buyers get an independent inspection of the electrical circuitry and, where appropriate, a safety inspection of the gas installation.

The Power Service can provide the following services:

• Pre-purchase electrical inspections of private homes and buy-to-lets
• Pre-purchase gas safety inspections of private homes and buy-to-lets
• Strict confidentiality is maintained with registration under The Data Protection Act  
• We can provide estimates for remedial work   
• We also carry out homeowners electrical and gas inspections on owned properties

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For landlords purchasing property for letting purposes, you may also wish to include :

• A furniture and furnishings inspection and report
• PAT testing of appliances to be used by tenants in the property
• A smoke alarm report

(For more details see our Landlords page)

Home Information Pack Regulations

Under the terms of the Housing Act 2004,Home Information Packs (HIPs) were introduced in 2007 on a phased basis. Copies of the pack are to be made available to prospective buyers on request.

The Home Information Pack is compulsory for anyone marketing a home for sale, allowing this essential information to be made available up front.

In a climate of uncertainty, Home Information Packs are mandatory for most properties but the Home Condition Report (HCR) is voluntary.

The Department for Communities and Local Government announced on 18 July 2006 that the mandatory items of a Home Information Pack are the Energy Performance Certificate, searches and other legal documents. The Home Condition Report will for the moment remain part of the Pack on a voluntary basis.

The Home Condition Report was intended to be a key plank of home information packs, providing information on the condition of a property up front to buyers as a form of mini survey. But they will now only form a voluntary part of the Home Information Pack, which itself will still be mandatory for any property put up for sale after 1st June 2007.

Home Information Pack Trial in Newcastle

In September 2006, the Department for Communities and Local Government pledged £4 million of funding to support six area trials for the Packs in Bath, Newcastle, Southampton, Northampton, Huddersfield and Cambridge, the first of which begins on 6 November 2006. The trials are being rolled out by the Department in partnership with industry and aim to help test both the Packs and full Home Condition Reports.

To find out more visit www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk