HIPS - How much?

chriserenity

CelticGhirl wrote: »

I take it this HIP doesn't apply in Scotland?

Correct. HIPs only apply in England and Wales

chriserenity

chickmug wrote: »

You need to be really careful about where you get a HIP. Evidence is coming to light that not all solicitors will accept the full contents of all the packs, Also that some of the HIPs providers are not fully complying with the requirements.

I agree. You would think that all HIP providers would include at least the minimum required documents and adhere to the letter of the law. Unfortunately many do not and flout the regs. Examples of this include:

• Sending non-qualified/licenced assessors to collect the information for the EPC
• Using personal water and drainage searches! (a big no-no)
• Merging the land registry documents with the other HIP docs into a single .pdf which the Land Registry does not allow
• Sending confirmation of order before ordering all the HIP docs
• Including marketing information in the HIP to sell additional services e.g. energy efficiency improvements/related services and products

In reality anybody can set up as a HIP provider since homeowners can compile HIPs themselves. Trading standards don't take ignorance as protection from the law however ...

Its not just HIP providers who aren't complying with the regs. Some Estate Agents are guilty too e.g. not including the coloured A-G EPC graphs in their online and hard copy sales particulars, not waiting until they have confirmation of order before marketing the property and not providing the buyers solicitor access to the HIP on request (though this last point is more a case of EA ignorance of the HIP process than anything as far as I can see).

Having said all this I think the majority of HIP providers do follow the rules and produce compliant HIPs to the minimum required standard. This however doesn't make the HIPs as useful as when extra information is included. In the absence of the government raising the bar for HIPs its up to sellers to choose good quality providers offering more than the bog standard.

Look for HIPs that include over the minimum at least:

• The Home Use Form (sellers questionnaire)
• The Home Contents Form (list of fixtures/fittings left by the seller for the buyer)
• All relevant guarantees and warranties e.g. FENSA, safety certs, Cavity wall insulation certs etc etc

Jorgan_2

CelticGhirl wrote: »

I take it this HIP doesn't apply in Scotland?

Scotland is having its own version of the HIP, I forget what its called. Apparently they were going to see how the HIP worked in England & Wales before going ahead.

Richard_Webster

You need to be really careful about where you get a HIP. Evidence is coming to light that not all solicitors will accept the full contents of all the packs, Also that some of the HIPs providers are not fully complying with the requirements.

There's a lot of stuff about solicitors not accepting the contents of some packs. This is quite possible and I have seen a naff pack for a shared freehold flat in London where the HIP provider simply didn't understand what shared freehold was and put in the Land Registry entries for the freehold of the whole building as if that was being sold! In that case it didn't really make any difference because there wasn't really a problem with the local search and drainage search.

However I really would like to hear some more concrete examples of what is not accepted by some solicitors as I have a feeling that this line in somewhat exaggerated.