www.direct-hips-uk.com?

PauliPauli

Hi, anyone used this company, have offered me a HIP for £225 on a basic two up two down mid terrace in Wolverhampton, West Midlands?

Thanks

Pauli

alared

Forget about a HIP,only 48% of sellers have bothered with them and NO council in the country have ever prosecuted anyone for not having a HIP.
They`ve got better things to waste ratepayer`s cash on.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1195764/Half-home-sales-going-HIPs.html

Although councils have powers to levy repeated £200 fines, Parliamentary Questions have now revealed that not one fine has been issued.

downshifted

I got my hip from hips4u and they were fine. I don't understand the recent reports about not having them - surely an estate agent will not now market a house without a hip?

downshifted

Evee2000

downshifted wrote: »

I got my hip from hips4u and they were fine. I don't understand the recent reports about not having them - surely an estate agent will not now market a house without a hip?

downshifted

Quite correct, it is the estate agent that will be fined, and I know that Trading Standards are investigating non compliant marketing of property in our area right now. They would rather give a 7 day warning of non compliance and then take further action where necessary. So far, this has not proved to be needed (hence, no fines).

alared

Sellers have been required since April to have a full HIP in place before marketing their home.
However, a survey by Spicerhaart, the country's biggest independent estate agency firm, in the following five weeks found a HIP was available and completed in only 48 per cent of cases.
The firm identifies a 'systemic failure to comply with HIPs legislation'.
Separately, it is clear that councils are spending little if any time and money on trying to enforce the discredited regime.
Local authorities had long warned that the regulations were 'unenforceable' as it would 'cost too much money to make it worthwhile pursuing such cases'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1195764/Half-home-sales-going-HIPs.html

Evee2000

alared wrote: »

Sellers have been required since April to have a full HIP in place before marketing their home.
However, a survey by Spicerhaart, the country's biggest independent estate agency firm, in the following five weeks found a HIP was available and completed in only 48 per cent of cases.
The firm identifies a 'systemic failure to comply with HIPs legislation'.
Separately, it is clear that councils are spending little if any time and money on trying to enforce the discredited regime.
Local authorities had long warned that the regulations were 'unenforceable' as it would 'cost too much money to make it worthwhile pursuing such cases'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1195764/Half-home-sales-going-HIPs.html

Unfortunately, this is mis information. Sellers are NOT required to have a full HIP in place prior to marketing their property. They are required to have 'key' documents in place, in the 'mini' HIP in order for marketing to commence. The documents can be put together within a day, and the property may be marketed at that time.

I can only speak for my area, and I know that Trading Standards are carrying out regular spot checks up here in the North East (I know because I was asked to put together 5 HIPs in a short space of time for the EA who was flouting the regs). Yes, there are a number of EAs who are ignoring the HIP regulations, but they will eventually be caught out and pointed in the right direction.

Local authorities received additional funding to manage the additional Trading Standards work - so really, the 'costing too much money' angle is not relevant.

docij

We were able to put the house on the market before the whole HIP was completed - as Evee2000 said. We used hips4u and they charged just over £200 and were very efficient. There was a short delay for local authority searches but everything else went smoothly.