You may have heard that the Home Information Pack regime will soon be extended to include flats. News on the Block has already written quite a lot on the subject. With just a few months to go until HIPS for flats become law, the Department for Communities and Local Government have warned that some HIP providers are using invalid title documents. The HIPs market has not proved to be the windfall for providers many predicted. So, in a competitive market and to minimise costs, some providers have been relying on photocopies of the title at the Land Registry instead of official copies. Any conveyancing solicitor worth his/her hourly fee will tell you this is not good enough to provide you with protection. However, for those not so familiar with the home buying and selling process the invalid nature of these documents may not be so obvious. Hopefully, these providers will improve their service by the time flat owners need them later in the year.
Leasehold & Freehold Legislation | Property Management Law Blog