Interested in house - should I view HiPs

musey

We are looking at houses and have one potential we are v interested in, if we can work out the details on the price etc. This is the first time I've looked at houses since Hips came in, as a buyer should I be asking to look at the hips pack before I amke an offer? whn I make an offer? when the offer is accepted? or when we instruct solicitors? I really have no idea.

Also when lookin at the hips, what am I looking for?

Thanks

david29dpo

You may be interested in certain things in the HIP so its worth looking before viewing or making an offer. Most important is the title register. This may tell you about certain covenants which are not to your liking. It will also tell you about any loans on the house, not normally a problem but you dont want to see loads of charges (loans) from the likes of ocean finance !! The EPC may be of interest but most perfectly good houses have a low rating and the Title plan will show (with a red line) what you are buying.

loki13

After having an offer accepted and then during conveyancing finding out that a public sewer ran under the middle of the house, and an extension had been built over the sewer with no permission, we then looked at the water survey for any house we were interested. The first house had no HIP (had been on the market for ages).

Evee2000

The EPC will give you and idea of running costs for the property and where potential lies for reducing these costs (additional insulation, more efficient heating system etc).

The Property Information Questionniare is also a fairly useful document and will provide you with details of services that exist at the property, any damage that has ocurred since the owner has lived there, flooding etc.

not_loaded

I wouldn’t even look at a HIP until I know that’s the house I want.

HIPs consist of 50 to 100 sheets of paper. The vast majority will be small print terms and conditions of the company that did that section of the HIP. Therefore you can flick through those pages quickly. The ones of interest will give reasonably clear details specific to the property, such as drains, water supply, boundaries.

Make notes of anything that concerns you (or you don’t understand) and give your solicitor those notes when proceeding.

You are entitled to your own paper copy of the HIP if you want one, although they can charge for copying/despatch.

musey

Very helpful, thanks guys. We're pretty sure 'this is the one' but have never dealt with a hips before, last time we bought was before they were required.