help i'm confused - buying & selling

yummy-mummy-amy

hi,

we are in the process of selling our house and buying a new 1.

we have paid for the HIP doc (£381!) and the 2 houses we are interested in have the HIP docs. HOWEVER, we have been told that we have got to pay out just under £400 for a survey on which ever house we want to put an off on. i'm confused as to why. i thought this was what the HIP doc was for.

can anyone please explain to me. i rang the estate agents and asked them and they confused me even more.

thanks

goldbyron

The survey/valuation is required for the mortgage company which comments on the price of the property and the structural soundness. The HIP does not include this.

poppysarah

The PIQ does a bit though...

Ask to see the PIQ
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/propertyinformationquestionnaire

You will still need a survey for a mortgage


But if the property has had work done it should be listed on building regs/planning at your local council. You can usually search this online.
Loads of PIQs are full of nonsense though like "don't know" - when clearly they should know.

Cannon_Fodder

A HIP does not include a survey. It was once going to be, but the Govt dropped it.

If you are buying cash, you can choose not to have a survey, though depending on the age of property that might be a false economy.

Use the survey to be sure of the property's condition, and re-negotiate price if need be.

yummy-mummy-amy

thank you.

we will be putting down a deposit but most will be on mortgage. i thought the survey WAS included in the HIP, so its mistake on my part. the (3) houses we are interested in are all about 15yrs old and were bought and renovated and are now being re-sold in vacant condition.