What Are My Rights When Buying a Home?
Please note: Home Information Packs (HIPs) were abolished by the UK government in May 2010. This article is retained for historical reference only and does not reflect current property buying or selling requirements. For current guidance on buying or selling a home, visit GOV.UK.

Buying a house can be a somewhat scary experience. Parting with such a large amount of money and locking yourself into a mortgage for a number of years is a big deal. However buying a house should also be one of the best experiences of your life. Finally owning your own house, after years of lining you landlord's pockets, is a wonderful achievement. In order to ensure this experience is enjoyable and not traumatic there are several safeguards in place to protect both buyers and sellers - although, as most people will have experienced at some point, sometimes unforeseeable events make it more stressful that it need be. Still, it's worth knowing your rights before you embark on the house-buying process.

What rights do you have?

From a legal point of view, buyers have some protection although many of the laws act more to protect the seller. It is therefore even more important to learn what small amount of protection you do have as a buyer.

The important thing to remember is the estate agent, although helping you to find your dream house, is primarily working for the seller. This means their main job is to sell the house. The estate agent is not required to be upfront about any problems with the property. What he or she does have to do though is answer all of your questions truthfully. This is why is it so important to question everything and ask about any specific problems in the house i.e. enquire about damn problems, mould, the heating system, rotten wood etc. If you ask outright they must answer honestly. If they give you an answer that you find to be false you could claim damages under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

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Home Information Packs

Home Information Packs (HIPs) were abolished in England and Wales in May 2010 and replaced with Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Estate agents must still belong to approved redress schemes for property-related complaints.

Sellers must provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when marketing their property, which shows the energy efficiency rating of the home.

The laws that are in place are there to help both buyers and sellers and make the process easier for all those involved. It is always important to know you rights before buying a house as otherwise there may be complications once the transaction has gone through.