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H

Hardboard

Thin, manufactured board used to cover subfloors.

Hardcore

The sub-base material for concrete work, usually made of broken brick or stone.

Haunching

Smoothly contoured concrete slope beside drainage channel within an inspection chamber. Also known as Benching..

HBF (Home Builders Federation)

HBF is a members body representing the home building industry in England and Wales. HBF represent their member interests on a national and regional level to create the best possible climate in which they can deliver the homes this country needs.

HCR (Home Condition Report)

A HCR is a voluntary survey which can be added to the HIP, if required; the HCR is a report on the physical condition of the property.

Health and Safety Executive

See HSE

Heat loss parameter

See HLP

HEED (Homes Energy Efficiency Database)

HEED is a database tracking the level of domestic energy efficiency measures across the country.

HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System)

The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is a risk assessment tool used to assess potential risks to the health and safety of occupants in residential properties in England and Wales. It replaced the Fitness Standard in April 2006.

HI (Home Inspector)

A Home Inspector is a trained and qualified individual who can undertake a Home Condition Report (HCR) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPC).

High lending fees

Not all lenders charge these, but if you borrow a high percentage of the price of the property - for example, over 80% or 90% - you may have to pay this type of fee. This is because the mortgage represents a higher risk to the lender if you do not keep up your repayments. Lenders sometimes buy insurance (called mortgage indemnity) to protect themselves. This insurance does not protect you - you would still be responsible for your debt, even if the lender claimed on its insurance.

Higher lending charge

See HLC

Hip

The external junction between two intersecting roof slopes.

Hipped roof

A roof to have sloping sides and sloping ends.

HLC (Higher lending charge)

A charge made by mortgage lenders in the UK when the loan-to-value ratio of a mortgage is higher than they are prepared to accept at standard rates.

HLP (Heat loss parameter)

A HLP is a value based on the external surface area, insulation (U value) of those surfaces and air-tightness of a dwelling and forms part of the SAP calculation.

Hoggin

A covering material of gravel and sandy clay, can be more expensive than hardcore.

Home

See dwelling

Home Builders Federation (HBF)

See HBF

Home Buyers Survey

A more detailed survey than a mortgage valuation but not as detailed as a Full Structural Survey, and is carried out by a qualified surveyor.

Home Buyer’s Valuation Report

An assessment of the value (and general condition) of a property for mortgage purposes by the building society's surveyor. It is not as detailed as a structural survey report

Home Condition Report

See HCR

Home Report (Scotland only)

This report is required as part of the selling process of any property in Scotland.

Home Inspector

See HI

Homes Energy Efficiency Database

See HEED

Household

One or more people sharing a dwelling

Housing Health and Safety Rating System

See HHSRS

HSE (Health and Safety Executive)

The Health and Safety Executive is the national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness and are an independent regulator that acts in the public interest to reduce work-related death and serious injury across Great Britain's workplaces