Home Information Packs
At Wellers we can provide a full HIP service. This enables your estate agent toconcentrate on marketing your property and us to streamline the conveyancing process. It also allows us to support local businesses by using energy performance inspectors in the area.
How can we help?
We can obtain a HIP with a personal search via an independent pack provider or we can provide a HIP which is prepared in-house with an official search. Our in-house HIP does comply with the relevant legislation and the documents are co-branded with the Law Society’s logo.
We are currently offering a competitive package for a combined instruction to prepare the HIP and to deal with the conveyancing.
What are the components of the HIP?
Currently the HIP includes the following documents;
Sale Statement
Index of documents
Evidence of Title to the property
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Results of the Local Search
Results of the Drainage and Water Search
(Please note that the cost of the HIP and the type of components included may be subject to change due to the government’s ongoing implementation process. Information was correct at the time of this article. (April 2008)
What are the costs and timescale?
A HIP with a personal search costs approximately £300.
The price of a HIP with an official search varies according to fees of the local authority and those of the water company for the drainage and water search. The price of the other components in the pack will be fixed. We will produce a hard copy for you and a PDF version for marketing requirements. For sellers in the London Borough of Bromley, a HIP costsapproximately £360. (As at 1 April 2008)
The turnaround for both types of HIP is 3-5 working days.
HIP with a Personal Search or Official Search – what should a seller choose?
A HIP with an official search gives the seller and the buyer confidence that it has been compiled by the specialised departments at the local authority, and not by an unknown party.
Before the introduction of HIPs most lawyers acting for buyers applied for the official search which is accepted by all mortgage lenders and solicitors. This is not always the case with a personal search.
Personal searches are conducted by an independent agent. He obtains the replies to the standard enquiries of the council by personally inspecting the relevant data at the local authority.
Ultimately the choice of the HIP will be your decision and we can advise you as to the best option for your particular circumstances.
Wellers Commitment
We appreciate that the buyer, your estate agent and you will need to be confident with the HIP provider.
Wellers offer reassurance that whatever HIP is chosen, a team of experienced lawyers will be at the heart of the procedure and will be well placed to speed up the process.
If you require assistance please contact our switchboard and ask for a member of the Conveyancing department on 020 8464 4242 or if you would like to instruct us to prepare a HIP, please click on the link below.
