Home Condition Reports (HCR)                                                    ç Back

The way people sell their homes from 2007 will be radically different from the current system.

The government have introduced the Housing Bill and asked the RICS and other property and consumer groups to investigate and assess the buying and selling procedures currently used throughout the UK (Excluding Scotland). Their remit included dramatic changes to ensure that buying and selling procedures were fair for the property industry and home movers alike.

The Housing Bill was given the royal ascent in the Queen's November 2004 speech. The first changes expected are to be a voluntary scheme from the middle of 2006 with reforms finally becoming Law in early 2007.

In simplistic terms the procedures would require the vendor's (seller) estate agents to produce a sellers pack, the cost of which is to borne by the vendor and to be made available prior to the property being put on the market.

The content of the sellers pack has not been completed but is thought to include documentation such as copies of Land Registry searches, title deeds, any relevant documentation regarding planning and building regulation applications and will include a HCR. This is to allow the purchaser the opportunity to have all the relevant facts available at the time of making the offer and to be able to consider their offer in full.

The Home Condition Report (HCR), the format is still being discussed and refined but will provide a condition report of the property (not including valuation) and provides a rating on the condition of various elements of the building such as joinery, roof coverings, flashings, walls etc. In addition a Home Energy Rating (HER) will provide information on the efficiency of the property and identify areas where improvements can be made with possible costs and financial savings.