Home Information Packs - HIPs
We're fully regulated by the HIP Code (Property Code Compliance Board), carry £2 million in indemnity insurance and generate HIPs (Home Information Packs) throughout England and Wales.
NATIONWIDE, freehold, HIPs are £234.00 (including VAT).
The component elements of our HIPs are;
- HIPs Preparation Fee
- Office Copies (Land Registry)
- Standard Personal Search
- Official Water & Drainage Search
- EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Total HIP Fee (inc VAT) : £234.00
For Leasehold properties the cost of the HIP is £295.00 (including VAT).
We currently have three main options;
1) Full payment upfront of £234.00 for Freehold properties & £295.00 for Leasehold properties.
2) 50% at the start of the HIP process and 50% one month after completion of the HIP.... there is a £21.00 admin charge for this option.
3) 10% at the start of the HIP process with the remainder spread over 3 months.... there is a £31.00 admin charge for this option.
These figures are for payments via Maestro, Switch, Visa Debit or Cheque. For Credit Card payments we charge an extra £5.00 (because the credit card companies charge us extra to take payment)........... If you subsequently use us for your conveyancing we will reimburse you the fiver !
Timeframe
As a matter of course we will contact your Estate Agent on the day you Instruct Us and confirm that the HIP's been "commissioned".
We'll also email a copy of the EPC (the Energy Assessment part of the HIP) to the Estate Agent upon it's completion. This usually happens within 5 days.
We take the above steps to keep the Estate Agent happy.
The rest of the HIP follows as soon as we receive the remaining components of the HIP (ie. Searches & Land Registry details).
Our average turnaround time, at present, is about 10 days - start to finish.
If you're happy with the above comments and are happy to proceed with your HIP please click on the Instruct Button below;
Alternatively to discuss your requirements further, please either email Sam Archibald (LLB LPC. ie Sam has a Law Degree & passed her Legal Practioners Certificate) via admin@conveyancingbrokers.co.uk or call our team on 0845 603 0708.
If you're wondering about the further Conveyancing costs (the solicitors fees to sell the property) please refer to our quotes page. Some of our clients use us for conveyancing & some don't - it's completely upto you.
The benefits of ordering HIPs independently of the Estate Agent are;
1) Estate Agents are often paid a commission by their HIP provider - hence artificially adding to your costs.
2) Some Agents will use their HIP as a bargaining tool to dissuade you from changing Agents later on. ie. they may say "it's our HIP....if you want to change Agents you'll need a new HIP !"
3) If an Agent says, "we'll include the HIP within our Sales fee"..... you can rest assured they won't be paying for the HIP themselves ie. they'll bump up their fee to both cover their costs & to secure you as a client (see point 2).
It's worth noting that whilst a few "online" HIP providers aren't regulated (with all the costs & obligations that entails) we most definitely are..... hence if your Estate Agent tries to suggest that they want you to pay a "fee" to Validate our HIP's.... either a) refer them to us or b) tell them to "go take a running jump" & find yourself a different agent.
We work with lots of ethical Agents who are happy that their clients shop around for the best deal.
We also provide our HIPs to a number of Estate Agents for whom we package the HIP in their logo. ie. if you buy your HIP through your Agent... we may still be doing the work !
In terms of cost if you're worried that we're too cheap and there must be a catch.... there isn't. We just make less profit on our HIPs than other firms. No corners are cut.
If you've got any further HIPs questions please either email us via admin@conveyancingbrokers.co.uk or call our helpline on 0845 603 0708.
Please refer to Point 8 of our FAQ1 page for further information about our payment terms.
WARNING;
Prior to selecting any "internet" HIPs provider you might want to ask the following questions...
1) Are they regulated by the HIP Code - some estate agents won't accept HIPs from unregulated, non HIP Code, providers.
2) Check they're listed on the PCCB (HIP Code) website - please cut & paste the following address; http://propertycodes.org.uk/register_of_firms/search.html
3) Are they simply an EPC Provider trying to tack on the Legal work ? If they are then whilst the EPC maybe insured... the legals probably won't be.
4) Is their only payment option to ask for full payment upfront ? If so why ? Are they financially secure enough to allow you to spread the payments ? Are they an established company ?
5) Are they using Official Water & Drainage searches or the cheaper "not HIP approved" version ?
6) Will the HIP be fully Code compliant ?
7) Do they charge extra for paying by credit card but only disclose that fact right at the very moment you come to pay ?
8) Are they using the "Official Copy Entries" or are they copying them without paying the Land Registry. This may sound a wee bit technical but the HIP watchdog aren't happy about this type of circumnavigation of the rules.
9) It takes "infrastructure" to run a decent HIP's operation. Be careful about putting your trust in "one man" bands. Ask how long they've been trading. Also ask if they have any legal experience.
10) This one's a bit of a mind teaser.... but if their website uses pictures of "foriegn houses".... a cynical person could summise that they've just bought an online "website template" for $60.00 or so, popped in some text, and hey presto... they're promoting themselves as a HIP provider ! Please refer to points, 1,2,3,4,5,6,9 & 11.
11) Are they a Limited Company ? What happens if there's a problem ?
12) If they don't like to answer the phone or suggest you should email your questions or Instructions... be careful...
13) I'm sorry if I've come across as an old cynic, which I am these days, but whatever you choose to do... all the very best ! Regards. Jon Hilton. Company Director.
