Advice on HIPs please

paulcollins10

Hi All,
Am hoping someone could point me in the right direction.
I am looking at putting my property in the market imminently but am unsure what to do regarding HIPs. The estate agent i'm considering going with is pointing me in the direction of their HIP provider who charge £295 i have 2 queries:

1, i've read that some HIPs are 'attached' to the EA and therefore if i don;t sell with this agent and i go elsewhere i wouldn;t be able to move my HIP and i'd have to pay for a new one.

2, is £295 a reasonable price? i've seen them advertised for much cheaper but i'm not really sure how genuine they are and what to look out for.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

conveyancingexplained

Our solicitors' firm also provides HIPS for £295.00 and we were not able to lower the price any further than that, we don't actually make any money on it, it's basically just the cost of the searches and the EPC.

A trick that some providers use to make their HIP look cheaper and therefore more attractive is to quote the price for the searches only, then add the cost of the EPC on top of that. I would therefore make sure that the EPC is definitely included with these cheaper providers. Some providers also offer free "top up" searches when the previous ones become out of date. All in all, I would say that it is a good price, provided searches and the Energy Performance Certificate are included in it.

Different agents have different rules, so I would make enquiries of the estate agent as to theirs regarding ownership of the HIP. I have heard what you say before and I suspect that it is the case with most agents that they retain the HIP. You need to check this direct with the agent.

Hope this helps!

Evee2000

Hmm - really surprised that you're allowed to advertise your own rates here. I would have a look at using a local pack provider, who is subscribed to a body who audits their members for compliance. The Independent Pack Providers Association do just that, and members all adhere to stringent membership criteria. They have a member search page on the front of the site, where you can look for a local company, who will not cost you the earth. www.theippa.org.uk. Also, from 6th April, HIP prices will more than likely be increasing, due to changes in the way the search information is provided - local authorities are changing their pricing to reflect the need to make all information available. Just something to bear in mind.

neb_3

well no one has to use me but at least they have a price guide then, i know alot of my clients have been quoted upwards of £300 + vat by estate agents in the past which is a ridiculous price. you should def be paying less than £300

neb_3

ps dont buy a HIP that will not belong to you in the end, you want to be able to take it with you if you ever decide to change agents so check that with the supplier before purchasing

david29dpo

It tends to be only the "free HIP" with some agents that is not yours to take with you if you change agents or becomes very expensive if you do. If you pay for a HIP upfront, its yours. Simply ask the agent first. Alternatively, ask your solicitor how much they charge. However some solicitors are now doing "free HIPs" tied in to conveyancing, so be careful.