HIP's - what's the point?

player

...when the estate agent is avoiding sending the report to myself as a prospective buyer?


It makes you wonder if it report exists at all, and I am under the impression that it's a legal requirement for the report to exist before the property is in fact placed onto the market?

Cannon_Fodder

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

" How much will a HIP cost?
If you are a buyer, nothing: you'll get a copy of the HIP free on any property you are interested in. However, you may be asked to pay copying and postage costs. You are not required to have made an offer on a property before requesting a copy

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 "



To avoid being asked to pay for copying etc, visit their office or ask for a link to the online version.