Home information packs explainedHow to buy a Hip

Who can provide you with a Hip?

HIPs must be backed up by an approved redress scheme

As 90% of people in England and Wales use an estate agent to sell their property it’s likely that many sellers will arrange their Hip through an agent. It’s not your only option though – many mortgage lenders, solicitors and conveyancers offer Hips, and there are specialist providers also. You can even compile a Hip yourself.

Make sure there's a redress scheme

Hips from estate agents must be backed up by either of the following approved redress schemes: The Property Ombudsman (TPO) formerly the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA) scheme or The Surveyors Ombudsman Service run by The Ombudsman Service Ltd (TOSL).

If you get your Hip elsewhere, make sure you check that there is a redress scheme in place in case something goes wrong. For more information go to the government's official Hips website.

Check when buying

If you’re buying a property via an estate agent, make sure you ask to see the Hip, as estate agents are not required to show you it. They may charge buyers a small sum for the costs of copying, etc.

How much should a Hip cost?

A Hip should cost between £300 and £400 for a typical three-bedroom semi. This could rise to between £600 and £800 if you top it up with a home condition report.

In April 2008, we conducted a snapshot survey of 23 estate agents and found that Hips (without an HCR) ranged in price from £234 to £499.

Sellers who get their Hip from an estate agent may also find that, instead of paying for a Hip up front, they'll pay for it only once the sale is completed.

No such thing as free

But beware of so-called 'free Hips' – if an estate agent says the Hip is free or included in the commission fee, check what this means. They may want you to pay for the Hip if you switch agent or if you remove the property from the market.

If you feel you were misled, complain to complaints body which the Hip provider is a member of – either the TPO or TOSL.

How long will the Hip last?

There‘s no clear answer to this question. For things such as search, the Government says that it’s for the market to decide, though there are industry standards that give guidelines.

The EPC can be up to one year old. 

Ask your Hip provider about this, as in a slow property market, where properties take a longer time to sell, you may have to refresh the Hip. Buyers may also find that their conveyancer recommends paying for a new search or Land Registry title, for example, if the one in the Hip is 'out of date'.