Where to get a HIPS?

vegasbaby100

Hey we used simply Hips cost £300 we submitted the application on the Tuesday and on Thursday everything was done (excluding the local searches) they were very helpfull and can track online aswell.

acs202

Sorry can't offer any advice but just wanted to ask a follow up question. How long do the HIPS last for? Is it worth getting one when you are still thinking about selling or will it become invalid after some time?

Thanks!

Evee2000

The HIP is valid for the lifetime of the marketing of the property, where continuously marketed. Where the property is removed from the market, you have a year in which to remarket to ensure validity of the HIP. All documents within the HIP are protected (timewise), however a lender may ask for a refresh of searches where over 6 months.

bitsandpieces

I thought HIPs were transferable, even if done with an agent? Or is this not the case?

roger215

Why not do your own Hips, I did mine and it was quite simple and ended up being a %100 better than others I have seen. Simply request searches from your LA and the Water searches via water provider. Google a cheap EPC provider then download Land Registry deeds etc. Finally go to Direct. Gov and download and ammend the index and other documents and then compile. To make my Hips more comprehensive I included my last central heating service and any other useful info.

paul090971

and if you dont mind me asking Roger, how much did the all cost you??

Paul

roger215 wrote: »

Why not do your own Hips, I did mine and it was quite simple and ended up being a %100 better than others I have seen. Simply request searches from your LA and the Water searches via water provider. Google a cheap EPC provider then download Land Registry deeds etc. Finally go to Direct. Gov and download and ammend the index and other documents and then compile. To make my Hips more comprehensive I included my last central heating service and any other useful info.

Evee2000

roger215 wrote: »

Why not do your own Hips, I did mine and it was quite simple and ended up being a %100 better than others I have seen. Simply request searches from your LA and the Water searches via water provider. Google a cheap EPC provider then download Land Registry deeds etc Where did you download these from? Unless you have an account with Land Registry, you cannot download 'Official Copies' of title documents. Were your documents 'watermarked' and without a disclaimer at the top? Finally go to Direct. Gov and download and ammend the index and other documents and then compile. To make my Hips more comprehensive I included my last central heating service and any other useful info. Did you include a PIQ? This would have asked about when your heating was last serviced anyway.

I'm not entirely convinced that your HIP was compliant.

G_M

roger215 wrote: »

Why not do your own Hips, I did mine and it was quite simple and ended up being a %100 better than others I have seen. Simply request searches from your LA and the Water searches via water provider. Google a cheap EPC provider then download Land Registry deeds etc. Finally go to Direct. Gov and download and ammend the index and other documents and then compile. To make my Hips more comprehensive I included my last central heating service and any other useful info.

I have been contemplating this route:

Is that a comprehensive list of the content?
As per Paul's Q: cost? (esp the EPC)

Edit: I have looked into this now:

Energy report = £50 (no VAT)
LA report = £11 (personal search = Highways, Planning & Land Charges)
Land Reg title docs= £12 (Need 'Official Copies' so do NOT download from Land Reg - you need form OC1 for paper copies unless you have a Land Reg account)
Water search = £41.40
All other docs you complete yourself..

Total = £114 compared to cheap HIP provider £204 (Hips4You)

See here.

roger215

The Hips was fully compliant and comprehensive. If you look at Direct GOV it clearly states that you can do your own apart from the EPC.(Quote:
Who compiles the HIP?You can compile it yourself or you can hire an estate agent, solicitor or HIP provider to do it for you.)

The costs for the 2 LA searches cost me £140.00 which varies with each LA, you could do a less informative personal search using a agency but I prefered not to. An alternative would be to view the searches at your local council but this would mean that you would be the one interpereting the information whch may leave you liable if a mistake was made. The water searches are about £45.00 and my EPC via Hips4u was about £50.00 and land registry cost was £6.00 In the end the total cost added up to about £250.00.
It is however a personal choice as I chose this route as I knew most Hips providers would not include all the information I had eg: My Fensa certificate, Building Regs and CH service. I also had a great sense of achievment in doing this.
Finally I must add that it is not an easy route and you need to be confident about the process, I have tried to include a link to Direct Gov to help anyone thinking of going down this route but as I am a new user I am unable to do this
Simply go to Direct Gov and search for Hips.

Evee2000

roger215 wrote: »

The Hips was fully compliant and comprehensive. If you look at Direct GOV it clearly states that you can do your own apart from the EPC.(Quote:
Who compiles the HIP?You can compile it yourself or you can hire an estate agent, solicitor or HIP provider to do it for you.)

The costs for the 2 LA searches cost me £140.00 which varies with each LA, you could do a less informative personal search using a agency but I prefered not to. An alternative would be to view the searches at your local council but this would mean that you would be the one interpereting the information whch may leave you liable if a mistake was made. The water searches are about £45.00 and my EPC via Hips4u was about £50.00 and land registry cost was £6.00 In the end the total cost added up to about £250.00.
It is however a personal choice as I chose this route as I knew most Hips providers would not include all the information I had eg: My Fensa certificate, Building Regs and CH service. I also had a great sense of achievment in doing this.
Finally I must add that it is not an easy route and you need to be confident about the process, I have tried to include a link to Direct Gov to help anyone thinking of going down this route but as I am a new user I am unable to do this
Simply go to Direct Gov and search for Hips.

Yes, I agree that anyone can put together their own HIP. All I asked about was the title documentation that you downloaded. Where did you download it from, does it have a disclaimer at the top of it and it is watermarked with the landregistry logo?

Do you have a PIQ?

Re HIP providers not including your FENSA info and guarantees in a HIP - any HIP provider worth his salt will ask you if you have any further warranties or guarantees that would be useful information for a potential buyer. All of these documents can be copied and included in the HIP (at no extra cost) - in the authorised document section.