Commentary on Sections Part 5 - Home Information Packs Section 158: Duty to ensure authenticity of documents in other situations
342.This section provides that where a responsible person provides a potential buyer with a copy of the home information pack or of any document (or part of a document) included in it, or allows him to inspect it, it must be an "authentic" copy. A document is not authentic unless it is a copy of (or of part of) the home information pack for the property and complies with regulations made under section 163.
343.Section 156 provides that where a responsible person complies with a request for a copy of the home information pack, the copy supplied must comply with the requirements of regulations made under section 163. The similar duty imposed by this section covers other situations where the potential buyer sees or receives a copy of the pack otherwise than by virtue of his right under section 156. For example, he may be shown the copy without actually asking for it. Subsection (4) removes an unnecessary duplication of the duty in cases where a copy of the pack has been provided under section 156.