Currently on the hunt for a decent HIP provider who's not charging the earth (400+vat, shame on you estate agents...), and who's not some cowboy likely to come up with a HIP full of errors etc. I just got off the phone with Coates Solicitors in mosborough (http://www.coatessolicitors.co.uk) as they seem to get a lot of praise around here.

They've quoted me £232 INC VAT. This seemed very cheap (the cheapest I've found including all internet based providers), so I queried it further and surprisingly, it has no tie in to their conveyancing services and they even broke down the charges to justify why they think most hips are overpriced. (£112 for searches, £55 for the Energy report, £6 for office copy, £58 for their fees). They even warned me to double check my agency contract to ensure I wasn't liable to pay a £50 admin fee for getting a third party HIP (as charged by Blundells, Saxton Mee etc).

Will most likely go for this, especially as they are local solicitors so hopefully should do a decent enough job - anyone have any experience with their HIPS? Any problems?

Yeh we had the conveyincing done by them when we bought our house last year and I can definatley reccomend them, they were quick, efficient and cheap no probs at all.

They even warned me to double check my agency contract to ensure I wasn't liable to pay a £50 admin fee for getting a third party HIP (as charged by Blundells, Saxton Mee etc).


I used a 3rd party HIP with blundells (in Jan) , and they wanted to charge me £50 to vet the HIP before proceeding. I refused, stating that as the HIP provider was registered with teh code of practise and linked to by the official pages, then it would be ok. In the end they backed down..

To be honest, i took a week to sort out mainly becuase they didn;t appear to have any hard and fast rules on 3rd party hips - perhaps this has changed now.

I used a 3rd party HIP with blundells (in Jan) , and they wanted to charge me £50 to vet the HIP before proceeding. I refused, stating that as the HIP provider was registered with teh code of practise and linked to by the official pages, then it would be ok. In the end they backed down...

It's clear that the agents have simply cottoned on to yet another way of ensuring they get some cash out of vendors even when houses aren't selling - if they don't get them to sign up for a £400 hip, then at least they get £50 to get some minimum wage office worker to spend two minutes 'checking' the third party one. I'm sure most vendors don't even shop around for the HIP and assume they have to get it from their agent (who no doubt just get it at trade prices from a white label HIP provider like HipsProfessionals).

I used a 3rd party HIP with blundells (in Jan) , and they wanted to charge me £50 to vet the HIP before proceeding. I refused, stating that as the HIP provider was registered with teh code of practise and linked to by the official pages, then it would be ok. In the end they backed down..

To be honest, i took a week to sort out mainly becuase they didn;t appear to have any hard and fast rules on 3rd party hips - perhaps this has changed now.

Nah- hasnt changed. Blundells tried it with me very recently. I argued it and he kind of backed down - said they'd give me an advert free in the paper instead- smallest available (£80). Making me £30 better ....how generous.

Saxton Mee charge it too. Dont know about the others.

I got mine done by 1stopHIPshop (see Yell.com)- Andy McGowan. £249 no VAT. Estate agents wanted 450+VAT

It's clear that the agents have simply cottoned on to yet another way of ensuring they get some cash out of vendors even when houses aren't selling - if they don't get them to sign up for a £400 hip, then at least they get £50 to get some minimum wage office worker to spend two minutes 'checking' the third party one. I'm sure most vendors don't even shop around for the HIP and assume they have to get it from their agent (who no doubt just get it at trade prices from a white label HIP provider like HipsProfessionals).

Yeah - Blundells get there's through Taylor and Emmett (their preferred solicitor) and no doubt a kickback. T&E then get there's from hipsworld and no doubt there is further commission involved.

Like yuo say, it's just another cash cow for the EA, which is shocking when you consider what they charge in %age compare with what they actually do.

The reason they wanted to check it out was that they would be the "responsible person" as defined in law and therefore would be liable if the HIP was "wrong". They really should just have a waiver to say that the responsibilities lies with the vendor if a 3rd party HIP is used. But then that would lose them £££.

Sometimes I think I should be an estate agent, but luckily I still have my scruples..

This is an extract from the Governments HIP site
"The legislation on Home Information Packs isn't intended to provide that the seller or the seller's estate agent should be held responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in documents that have been provided by others. The penalty provisions recognise this, and will not apply so long as the seller or the seller's estate agent has reasonable cause to believe that the document does comply with the Regulations.
The provider of any specific document within the Pack should be responsible for the accuracy of that document"

extract from

http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/industry/83_Frequently_asked_questions.html

Just got back from Coates after ordering and paying for the HIP. They seem pretty good down there, very efficient and friendly, laid back offices etc, certainly not all stuffy like the city centre clique. They even checked over my title deeds for me as I had a couple of queries about them. Will most likely use them for conveyancing.

am using coates for my conveyancing at the moment. seems good. they reply quickly to my emails in human, understandable language. very happy with them so far.

The provider of any specific document within the Pack should be responsible for the accuracy of that document

I fully agree with this post. £50 to check that you HIP is compliant seems reasonable, especially when the EA needs to confirm its compliance to avoid any legal action being taken against them.

As for Coates, I would not reccomend them. I have found, in my dealings with them, to not be that good and in some cases somewhat obsrtuctive. I find that when I go in its a rather unwelcoming atmosphere and the front of office staff didnt do much to interact with me in the way of conversation. It could be an isolated occurance but it has put me of using them.

Coates are very good, I use them a lot

Used them a year ago. Only had to pop in once to sign a couple of things and everything was polite, professional and friendly. They answered phone calls and queries as quickly as possible, and called back when promised, I was a nervous 1st time buyer so most likely a bit of a pain. Although I have nothing to compare them against I would not hesitant to use them again.

I recently used Simon Edis, his website is www.emidlandsproperties.co.uk. It only cost £225 fully inclusive of the EPC, and that was for a leasehold property. Very efficient and quick - the EPC was available on his site the same night he came to the house and the HIP was ready a couple of weeks later, once the searches were returned. Would definitely recommend him.

HTH.

A x

Coates excellent. Used them a lot over the past few years for conveyencing. All our family used them for wills too!

Praise where praise is due - Pauline is brilliant, down to earth and doesn't charge the earth. She's got a good team around her that know what they're doing. They respond quickly and get things done.

Well done keep it up!!!

Currently on the hunt for a decent HIP provider who's not charging the earth (400+vat, shame on you estate agents...), and who's not some cowboy likely to come up with a HIP full of errors etc. I just got off the phone with Coates Solicitors in mosborough (http://www.coatessolicitors.co.uk) as they seem to get a lot of praise around here.

They've quoted me £232 INC VAT. This seemed very cheap (the cheapest I've found including all internet based providers), so I queried it further and surprisingly, it has no tie in to their conveyancing services and they even broke down the charges to justify why they think most hips are overpriced. (£112 for searches, £55 for the Energy report, £6 for office copy, £58 for their fees). They even warned me to double check my agency contract to ensure I wasn't liable to pay a £50 admin fee for getting a third party HIP (as charged by Blundells, Saxton Mee etc).

Will most likely go for this, especially as they are local solicitors so hopefully should do a decent enough job - anyone have any experience with their HIPS? Any problems?

Pauline coates and her daughter lyndsey coates do all my family dealing can not rate them high enough :thumbsup:

Pauline coates and her daughter lyndsey coates do all my family dealing can not rate them high enough :thumbsup:

Well said, used Pauline for personal & business use found her & the team brilliant..

Hi
I use Pauline Coates for my business and you wont go wrong, I have not required "hips" but you are in safe hands

I also think that you get what you pay for, Coates are cheap and nasty

I've used them a lot in the past and totally disagree with this, do you have a vested interest in slating them off perhaps?

I also think that you get what you pay for, Coates are cheap and nasty

Blundells wanted to charge me 199+vat to check a HIP provided by a solicitor. I changed estate agents instead.

Blundells wanted to charge me 199+vat to check a HIP provided by a solicitor. I changed estate agents instead.

I always thought that it was £50 + VAT to check it! Seems very unreasonable! perhaps shows that they are trying to get all the money they can!

has anyone successfully argued that they should not have to pay the EA admin/checking fee when using a 3rd party HIP provider?

My EA didn't ask to check my HIP - I almost feel left out now, lol!

Ax

Hi there,

I used a company called uk-epc they charged £199 including vat the epc was done within 24 hours. Customer support was excellent. They had very good feedback on the clg site would recommend:thumbsup: