Obviously, I could use the estate agent/a local solicitor, but there's so many tempting online HIP and conveyancing specialists offering low-cost deals. Anyone used any? More importantly, would anyone recomend any?

I used myhiphome

For the HIP, or for conveyancing too?

hold your horses, the new govt is scrapping HIPs, don't know from when though but must be worth a google

I've heard a rumour that HIPs are going to be scrapped soon – my boss has just paid out for one, and his solicitor, who's also a friend of his, mailed him yesterday to say her company had been told HIPs won't be around for much longer. If you're not in a rush, it might be worth checking out the rumour…

Too late…

Still, I want the house on the market asap, and what I don't pay for a HIP I'll still have to pay someone for local searches, EPC etc.

I used them for HIP only. Did the job fwiw and lets face it the HIP is really money down the toilet.
The conveyance package looks cheap as well.

Can't believe I'm going to type this but having recently paid for a HIP to go on the market I found it just another expense – sort of a warm up for the injustice of stamp duty. However now I've got my buyer's hat on I'm actually reading the HIPS of houses I'm interested in finding it answers and raises some useful questions – not deal breakers but prefer to know in advance: so actaully loosing HIP not all good.

we went with HIPs4u.co.uk £175 all in. V quick and professional. Hold if you can though….

Avoid Countrywideconveyancing.com (or .co.uk) as they were useless for us. Didn't need a HIP at the time, so no experience of them.

+1 for myHIPhome.

Very quick turn around the EPC survey was arranged on the friday for the following Monday and we had the mini HIP by pm on the Monday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10130254.stm

breaking news*:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10130254.stm

*I told you so 8)

EDIT: damn you dooosuk!!

Labour put so much effort into this! Initially was supposed to include a survey but eventually conceded this was impractical and a waste of cash but couldn't bring themselves to scrap the whole thing. Energy certificate sounds sensible though IME it's often just stating the rather obvious.

I wouldn't bother with a HIP, just go a head and market the house.

HIP's are worthless, a total waste of time!

As a buyer I wouldn't take one bit of notice of a HIP especially if I hadn't paid for this most questionable and uncomprehensive form of survey.

HIP inspectors can only make an educated guess about a property and will only have a seller's word on what has been done beneath the surface. They are mostly estate agents, or other non-engineering non-mechanical types who know next to ferk all about the fabric of a building other than what they have read in a book! Attending a 3 month course doesn't give you the knowhow and like any survey, you don't really know what a building is about until you pull it apart.

A pointless bureaucracy that serves as a hindrance and additional cost to a sale!

Your so called breach of the rules can be excused by today's announcement to scrap them.

Good job! The industry never wanted them in the first place!

Several years ago, the need was identified to simplify and accelerate the sales process of a property. The HIP was born, but failed on all counts to remedy the problem is was intended to resolve. It actually made things worse.

Not sure how the HIP system in England and Wales has (or has not) worked, but the system in Scotland is a vast improvement on the old system. Before you even thought about putting a bid in, you already know the valuation and therefore have a much better idea of what you can afford and what sort of mortgage level will be required. Granted it's not perfect, and the energy stuff was a bit naff, but having bought and sold under the new system it is a great improvements.

Quite why anyone thinks that transferring a cost from the seller to the buyer will improve the market is beyond me.

Quite why anyone thinks that transferring a cost from the seller to the buyer will improve the market is beyond me.

Probably because it was completely worthless, hence didn't really save the buyer any money.

Of course the industry never wanted them – especially in Scotland as it stops them doing several surveys on the same property so cost the "industry" profits

all rather immaterial now as first proof of a Tory manifesto policy (p75 if you want to check) being enacted has come through: As of yesterday all requirements for HIPs has been dropped. EPCs still required though under European Legislation.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/buyingselling/homeinformation/

woohoo. Since Cassa del Stoner goes on the market next week, that's saved me enough money for "I hate Gordon Brown" T-shirt! 😉

Probably because it was completely worthless, hence didn't really save the buyer any money.

As I said I'm not sure about the details in England and Wales but when I bought my house it did save me from having to have a survey done and did therefore save me money.

A HIP was never a replacement for a proper building survey.

…now, gonefishin, you know that crack…..

Steer clear of Shoosmiths for your conveyancing… They are totally incompetent…

I wonder how all those people who jumped on the HIP bandwagon and spent loads getting trained/'qualified' are feeling about this?