The truth about HIPS

Home Information Packs (HIPs) - much maligned or much misunderstood?

As a practicing Energy Assessor, it comes as a bit of a surprise how many people don't understand the benefit of the Home Information Pack. The almost universal opinion is that it is 'just an extra cost we don't need at this expensive time'.

Firstly, it shouldn't be EXTRA cost, the contents of the HIP is simply packaging information that youe estate agent or solicitor would need historically anyway. Property Information questionaire - used to be standard solicitor questions; searches - part of the conveyancing; EPC - ok this is new, but virtually always offset by potential savings in it's recommendations.

as a seller the HIP gives you control over the information presented to your prospective buyers, if there are aspects of the information being presented, make the change (like increasing loft insulation) - you have a positive outcome for your prospect.

as a buyer, you know much more about a property up front and can adjust your bid in accordance with the information presented, rather than finding out about something well down the process when re-negotiation will always be tricky and emotive.

So, you accept that HIPs can be good, so how do you maximise your investment? The biggest overlap in terms of HIP content lies with the solicitor, they will do much of the conveyancing of the property transaction and all the searches. Most solicitors appear to fooer some sort of offset of the HIP cost if they are doing the conveyancing too.

Independants, such as Surrey Energy Consultants, will also (usually) be more competetive than Estate Agents where they have their own overheads and that of their franchise provider to pay for. They may offer the advantage of deferred payment, but that is really just a timing issue.

So, find a local independant, they will usually be cheaper and quicker than what your Agent offers. OR ask your solicitor on the basis of discounting on the conveyancing costs. It just needs a little bit of thinking about.


Surrey energy consultants provide a local service to provide HIPs and EPCs as well as energy saving advice in North Surrey and SW London. If you think we can help, please get in touch.