NORTH-EAST law firm Blackett Hart and Pratt (BHP) is working with homeowners to cut through confusion over the introduction of Home Information Packs.

After months of speculation, it became compulsory on August 1 for sellers to provide a Home Information Pack (Hip) if a property they are putting on the market has four or more bedrooms.

Now BHP, which has offices in Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and Teesside, is providing Hips and aiming to streamline the selling and buying process for homeowners.

A Hip must contain documents to help home buyers, including results of searches, evidence of title, warranties and an Energy Performance Certificate commissioned by the seller from an accredited energy assessor.

Hips for smaller properties are expected to be phased in as soon as enough energy assessors are qualified.

Victoria Cheney, regional property sales manager at BHP, is a domestic energy assessor.

"The Energy certificate is being introduced as part of much wider Government reforms to cut carbon emissions from homes in accordance with European legislation," she said.

"Obtaining the information to create a certificate involves visiting the vendor's property and collecting the relevant data about the effectiveness of wall and loft insulation, double glazing, the heating and hot water supply and lighting."

In addition to providing Hips, BHP also provides legal advice for vendors and buyers, conveyancing, mortgage and independent financial advice and markets properties through its in-house estate agency.

Alan Matthewson, Hip manager at BHP, explained: "The purpose of the pack is to provide consumers with better information early in the selling process, to improve the speed and certainty of transactions and to reduce wasted costs.

"Those dealing with the sale of a property remain central to the provision of a Hip, namely the vendor's estate agent or solicitor, especially since the Hip consists primarily of legal information."

Two paper copies of each Hip and an electronic version to view online are provided.

Mr Matthewson added: "Victoria's position as an accredited assessor means we can still provide Hips and the legal work connected with a sale to vendors who wish to market their property through an estate agent.

"With the expertise in the firm we can also help buyers who need to interpret the legal information in a HIP of a property they are considering buying."