HIPS- are they available for winning bidders only?

dottiepeas

I've just asked the EA to view the hip on a repo house we are thinking of bidding on. But he says, the hip is only available to the winning buyer? Is that right?
Only the DirectGov website, says the hip is available to anyone who wishes to view it, before they make an offer??....

Is the EA wrong on this occasion?....

Ivana_B_Rich

I'm no expert but I think he is wrong. My understanding is the same as yours, the HIP is for anyone who is interested.

Edit:- I've only asked an EA once for a look at an HIP, although she didn't refuse she actively discouraged me

dottiepeas

Thanks for your reply! So we are all entitled to see the hip if we asked for it? Why do the EA's get funny about it? Surely by asking to view it, means we are fairly serious about making an offer? Maybe being paranoid, but I have a feeling the EA has someone in mind already for this repo house, and doing his best to put me off it....

docij

We asked the EA for the HIP on a house we had just viewed and they emailed it straight away. It helped us to decide whether or not to do a second viewing - in fact it's the house we're buying.

poppysarah

Some EA are not very helpful when it comes to viewing hips. Ask again and if they refuse -then make an ofifcial complaint. (via ombudsman and trading standards?)

Evee2000

The Estate Agent can only refuse to let you see the HIP if they have an idea that you are not serious about buying the property (for instance, cannot afford it). Or, of course, they may not have a HIP in place!

For official guidance:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/Homeinformationpacks/DG_171800

Which says (near the bottom of the page):

What can you do if a HIP/EPC isn't provided?
Sellers or their agents have to provide the pack within 14 days of a request from a buyer. A seller can refuse to provide a copy in limited cases. This is usually when a seller believes that the person making the request:

couldn't afford the property
isn't really interested in buying the property
isn't a person who the seller would wish to sell the property to (but this doesn't allow them to unlawfully discriminate against someone)

If you believe you are being denied a copy of the pack unlawfully, local authority trading standards officers can help you.

dottiepeas

That's what I read too on the directgov site!

But seems funny that I would bother asking the EA to read through the hip of a house if:
a) I had no interest in buying
b) that I couldn't afford?
....as it hardly makes for an interesting read!

As the house is a repo, I have my suspicions that this EA has already got a buyer in mind (probably a developer) and that he's just doing his best to put me off.

He also said to me that this house was technically not a "repo", but an "abandoned house", which is different- apparently? Don't know if i believe much of the stuff he told me over the phone today, but he was generally quite discouraging of me to want the house!

poppysarah

Put your request in writing and complain about them too.

Bongedone

Maybe is has a really bad score on the EPC

There is a number called an RRN number on the certificate. If they just give you that number over the phone you can look it up here:

https://www.hcrregister.com/searchReport.html