Where to get a HIPS?

pjw_2

The estate agent said a HIPS pack would be about £400 but online (HIPSdirect) they're about half that.

Are they so standardised that I should just go for the cheapest or are there other things to consider when shopping around?

And how long should they take?

Thanks,
Jim.

Evee2000

There are budget providers out there, some are better than others. I saw a completely non compliant HIP on Wednesday - the EA had asked for advice about it. The HIP provider charged less than £200.00.

You will be able to find low cost, local providers, who are compliance checked regularly on theippa.org.uk website. (member search). Alternatively, pm me and I'll locate some hopefully not too far away from you.

pjw_2

Thanks, I've PM'd you.

Jennifer_Jane

I have also, hope you can help, and thanks in advance!
Jen
x

Bob_the_Saver

Ours cost £230 from chap in the local yellow pages, try that route as well as on-line. (Waste of time/money either way but you've got to have one).

chris2289

You could try your local solicitors. Some of them provide them. However they may be a tad more expensive

Evee2000

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

I have also, hope you can help, and thanks in advance!
Jen
x

You've got a pm!

docij

I was dubious about using an online HIP provider but, after some research, decided to go ahead with hips4u. Within 24 hours a local energy inspector came to do the energy performance bit and then within 2 weeks the HIP was ready. Having checked the HIP supplied to the people we are buying from, which had been done via the EA, I feel ours was as good if not better. It cost just over £200, not the £450 quoted by our EA.

billyboy11

We used hips4u too, they were good apart from getting the local searches in.. I had a moan and finally all was ok, took a week for all the paperwork baring the searches. 4 weeks in total, for which they apologised..

DragonLady

One thing I was told when we put our place on the market was that if you use an independent provider, you can 'move' your HIP if you decided to move Estate Agents.

I am not sure, but I think you may have to have a new HIP done if you move agents...assuming your HIP was done by your agent.

Worth checking out perhaps.

embarkbrew

billyboy11 wrote: »

We used hips4u too, they were good apart from getting the local searches in.. I had a moan and finally all was ok, took a week for all the paperwork baring the searches. 4 weeks in total, for which they apologised..

That's the local authorities fault more than theirs though. I had a similar issue with my HIP last month and was too quick to place the blame with HIPS4U when it was my council being slow and not allowing their agents in to obtain the searches required.