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"Beware of cheap HIPs"
HOME-SELLERS risk disaster if they get their home information packs (HIPs) prepared on the cheap, solicitors are warning.
According to The Law Society, HIPs have caused a host of problems for buyers and sellers since they were introduced a year ago.
More and more homeowners are falling victim to estate agents and other non-solicitor providers who offer cheap rates.
Often these packs lack vital information, resulting in incomplete and inaccurate HIPs.
The society warns we could see more unreliable HIPs emerging as the Government proposes to make it compulsory for homeowners to complete one before their home is even put on the market.
Vice-president of The Law Society Paul Marsh said: "Many of the documents required in a HIP are of a legally complex nature but are vitally important to get right.
"For example, standard searches show important details, such as any charges linked to the property, building proposals in the surrounding area and water and drainage services for the property.
"So the best professional to produce your HIP is a qualified solicitor."
A solicitor can also explain what the contents of an HIP mean and identify any legal problems that might be unique to a property.
Mr Marsh added: "Anyone who is selling a home should get a solicitor involved in the HIPs process right from the outset.
"Solicitors can provide a one-stop-shop for getting your HIPs documents in place and have the legal expertise and conveyancing experience to make sure everything goes smoothly."
4:18pm Sunday 3rd February 2008
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CommentPosted by: Rosemary Rogers, st albans on 9:07am Mon 4 Feb 08
What you need to check is that the provider of your HIP is registered by the Property Codes Compliance Board, and therefore comply with The HIP Code, to ensure your HIP is properly prepared.
What you need to check is that the provider of your HIP is registered by the Property Codes Compliance Board, and therefore comply with The HIP Code, to ensure your HIP is properly prepared.
Posted by: biker, St ALbans on 2:11pm Wed 6 Feb 08
As, according to most estate agents, no-one wants to provide these stupid packs, and -more to the point- most purchasers are not interested in even looking at them, I fail to see why sellers should not go for the cheapest ones they can find.
Face it they are only another government inspired stealth tax!
As, according to most estate agents, no-one wants to provide these stupid packs, and -more to the point- most purchasers are not interested in even looking at them, I fail to see why sellers should not go for the cheapest ones they can find.
Face it they are only another government inspired stealth tax!
Posted by: interested, London on 12:05pm Thu 7 Feb 08
AHIPP - Amalgamation of Home Information Profiteering Parasites
AHIPP - Amalgamation of Home Information Profiteering Parasites
Posted by: sarahtye, Essex on 10:03pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Solicitors are not Qualified domestic energy assessors and do not know anything about energy reports!As thats the only part you need to be qualified for, why is a solicitor better?[quote]quote[/quote]
Solicitors are not Qualified domestic energy assessors and do not know anything about energy reports!As thats the only part you need to be qualified for, why is a solicitor better?
quote
Posted by: Richard Hamlin on 2:36pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Sites like www.movenanny.com provide access to best value HIP's, conveyancing, mortgages and other home moving services from industry leading firms like LMS.
Sites like www.movenanny.com provide access to best value HIP's, conveyancing, mortgages and other home moving services from industry leading firms like LMS.
Posted by: provider, lincolnshire on 11:00am Sun 4 May 08
[bold]As a HIP provider this article is complete rubbish!![/bold] MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE SOLICITORS FIRMS, THEY ORDER THE HIP FROM US, NO WORK INVOLVED FOR THEM, THEY THEN SELL THE HIP TO THEIR CLIENT WITH A MARK UP FEE OF UPTO £150!!! THATS WHY THEY'RE SAYING DONT USE HIP PROVIDERS!!!!!! If they are happy to use us why should the vendors not come to us direct and cut out the middle man????
As a HIP provider this article is complete rubbish!! MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE SOLICITORS FIRMS, THEY ORDER THE HIP FROM US, NO WORK INVOLVED FOR THEM, THEY THEN SELL THE HIP TO THEIR CLIENT WITH A MARK UP FEE OF UPTO £150!!! THATS WHY THEY'RE SAYING DONT USE HIP PROVIDERS!!!!!! If they are happy to use us why should the vendors not come to us direct and cut out the middle man????
Posted by: Molly, Wales on 11:41am Sun 4 May 08
Well said provider. Myself and my partner have just put our house and flat on the market to move in together:-) Mine went on 1st and I had my solicitor do the HIP (recommended by my estate agent) for £350 I didnt know anyone else could do them,, my partner then put his flat on sale and had his HIP from a local HIP company for £240, both our HIPs have exactaly the same stuff in them, same search comapany, same local authority, same water board, same land registry! but his was £110 cheaper than mine, both our HIPs showed a problem with the water board search, my solicitor didnt know it was a problem until I pointed it out when he gave me the HIP to check! but even though the solicitor had done my HIP he said it was my responsibility to check that the documents in it were correct as he does not know my property! and he still charged me another £128 to sort out the problem, my partner also paid the solicitor £128 to sort his water board problem out but overall he still saved £110, so having a HIP done by a solicitor doesnt mean you get any problems sorted out for free or even that they will know there is a problem!, go with a cheaper company I say at least you'll save some money even if you have a problem with a search, I just feel now as though I have wasted money going to a solicitor.
Well said provider. Myself and my partner have just put our house and flat on the market to move in together:-) Mine went on 1st and I had my solicitor do the HIP (recommended by my estate agent) for £350 I didnt know anyone else could do them,, my partner then put his flat on sale and had his HIP from a local HIP company for £240, both our HIPs have exactaly the same stuff in them, same search comapany, same local authority, same water board, same land registry! but his was £110 cheaper than mine, both our HIPs showed a problem with the water board search, my solicitor didnt know it was a problem until I pointed it out when he gave me the HIP to check! but even though the solicitor had done my HIP he said it was my responsibility to check that the documents in it were correct as he does not know my property! and he still charged me another £128 to sort out the problem, my partner also paid the solicitor £128 to sort his water board problem out but overall he still saved £110, so having a HIP done by a solicitor doesnt mean you get any problems sorted out for free or even that they will know there is a problem!, go with a cheaper company I say at least you'll save some money even if you have a problem with a search, I just feel now as though I have wasted money going to a solicitor.
Posted by: K.Dabhi, Flat 25 Mc Clure House, Clarence Docks, Leeds LS10 on 5:55pm Thu 8 May 08
[quote][bold]provider[/bold] wrote:
[bold]As a HIP provider this article is complete rubbish!![/bold] MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE SOLICITORS FIRMS, THEY ORDER THE HIP FROM US, NO WORK INVOLVED FOR THEM, THEY THEN SELL THE HIP TO THEIR CLIENT WITH A MARK UP FEE OF UPTO £150!!! THATS WHY THEY'RE SAYING DONT USE HIP PROVIDERS!!!!!! If they are happy to use us why should the vendors not come to us direct and cut out the middle man????[/quote] Please let me know what it would cost to have a Hips report o a one bed flat on the 3rd floor of a 5 floor apartment block, in prime situation at Clarence Docks in Leeds City Centre. The block is only 2 year old.
[quote]quote[/quote] reqd.
provider wrote:
As a HIP provider this article is complete rubbish!! MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE SOLICITORS FIRMS, THEY ORDER THE HIP FROM US, NO WORK INVOLVED FOR THEM, THEY THEN SELL THE HIP TO THEIR CLIENT WITH A MARK UP FEE OF UPTO £150!!! THATS WHY THEY'RE SAYING DONT USE HIP PROVIDERS!!!!!! If they are happy to use us why should the vendors not come to us direct and cut out the middle man????
Please let me know what it would cost to have a Hips report o a one bed flat on the 3rd floor of a 5 floor apartment block, in prime situation at Clarence Docks in Leeds City Centre. The block is only 2 year old.
quote
reqd.
Posted by: Barty, Guildford on 11:38am Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]Richard Hamlin[/bold] wrote:
Sites like www.movenanny.com provide access to best value HIP's, conveyancing, mortgages and other home moving services from industry leading firms like LMS.[/quote] I used movenanny when I moved home and found that the HIPs providers charged far more that going straight to a provider. Clearly movenanny are making a bundle out of home movers!
Richard Hamlin wrote:
Sites like www.movenanny.com provide access to best value HIP's, conveyancing, mortgages and other home moving services from industry leading firms like LMS.
I used movenanny when I moved home and found that the HIPs providers charged far more that going straight to a provider. Clearly movenanny are making a bundle out of home movers!
Posted by: Tom on 1:13pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]interested[/bold] wrote:
AHIPP - Amalgamation of Home Information Profiteering Parasites[/quote] Spot on. The whole issue neatly and succinctly explained!
interested wrote:
AHIPP - Amalgamation of Home Information Profiteering Parasites
Spot on. The whole issue neatly and succinctly explained!
Posted by: Liesl, Leek, Staffordshire on 1:17pm Fri 9 May 08
Hi Barty,
I moved quite recently and used a site called moveme.com... they have a panel of solicitors on their site, which probably does HIP's too (even though I didn't need one when I moved). Could be worth a look? They were pretty reasonable when I used them. x
Hi Barty,
I moved quite recently and used a site called moveme.com... they have a panel of solicitors on their site, which probably does HIP's too (even though I didn't need one when I moved). Could be worth a look? They were pretty reasonable when I used them. x
Posted by: mark, london on 2:03pm Fri 9 May 08
Actually I work for moveme.com and I agree with the guys from Leeds. We are always being offered marked up HIPS from solicitors. We are trying to get a table together of all the places where you can go direct but the market is muddied by the providers, inspectors, solicitors I genuinly feel sorry for consumers who are being fleeced for something that can be bought for 190 (or less) and is being sold for up to 750!
Watch this space, we think we are nearly there in releasing a NOT for profit hip table that shows you exactly what they cost, where you can buy them and whether the providers are any good at all.
Actually I work for moveme.com and I agree with the guys from Leeds. We are always being offered marked up HIPS from solicitors. We are trying to get a table together of all the places where you can go direct but the market is muddied by the providers, inspectors, solicitors I genuinly feel sorry for consumers who are being fleeced for something that can be bought for 190 (or less) and is being sold for up to 750!
Watch this space, we think we are nearly there in releasing a NOT for profit hip table that shows you exactly what they cost, where you can buy them and whether the providers are any good at all.
Posted by: Richard on 8:15pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]Barty[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Richard Hamlin[/bold] wrote:
Sites like www.movenanny.com provide access to best value HIP\'s, conveyancing, mortgages and other home moving services from industry leading firms like LMS.[/quote] I used movenanny when I moved home and found that the HIPs providers charged far more that going straight to a provider. Clearly movenanny are making a bundle out of home movers![/quote] Bart - you did not use movenanny when moving home. I have also checked the database, and we have no record of you on our system.
The site has only been live for a week.
We also only have one provider for HIPs
I think you have us confused with someone else :)
Amazingly, and I am sure purely by coincidence there are currently a lot of posts over many forums that sledge MoveNanny and recommend moveme - and not in one single instance have they been correct! Perhaps this is a moveme marketing campaign? And that you are associated with moveme?
And as we know moveme is partly owned by a venture capital firm, and they are all about maximising returns and making a bundle! They recently put another £4 million in, and they will want much more back!!!! Will this come from your new HIP's?
Barty wrote:
Richard Hamlin wrote:
Sites like www.movenanny.com provide access to best value HIP\'s, conveyancing, mortgages and other home moving services from industry leading firms like LMS.
I used movenanny when I moved home and found that the HIPs providers charged far more that going straight to a provider. Clearly movenanny are making a bundle out of home movers!
Bart - you did not use movenanny when moving home. I have also checked the database, and we have no record of you on our system.
The site has only been live for a week.
We also only have one provider for HIPs
I think you have us confused with someone else :)
Amazingly, and I am sure purely by coincidence there are currently a lot of posts over many forums that sledge MoveNanny and recommend moveme - and not in one single instance have they been correct! Perhaps this is a moveme marketing campaign? And that you are associated with moveme?
And as we know moveme is partly owned by a venture capital firm, and they are all about maximising returns and making a bundle! They recently put another £4 million in, and they will want much more back!!!! Will this come from your new HIP's?
Posted by: James, West Yorkshire on 1:27pm Fri 20 Jun 08
Our company uses an accredited personal search company to organise the searches and accredited EPC inspectors to carry out the EPC’s and finally title documents ordered direct from the Land registry. http://www.abodehip.
co.uk/
I have been led to believe that the law society spent a large amount of money on the development of a HIP portal called MDA who are contracted to search flow ( not the most competitive of search companies). Needless to say the take up has not been great when companies like us are providing a perfectly adequate and legally compliant HIP, sounds like sour grapes to me!! Shame on you law society
Our company uses an accredited personal search company to organise the searches and accredited EPC inspectors to carry out the EPC’s and finally title documents ordered direct from the Land registry. http://www.abodehip.
co.uk/
I have been led to believe that the law society spent a large amount of money on the development of a HIP portal called MDA who are contracted to search flow ( not the most competitive of search companies). Needless to say the take up has not been great when companies like us are providing a perfectly adequate and legally compliant HIP, sounds like sour grapes to me!! Shame on you law society
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