MyLocalHIP FAQ's

Do I Need a HIP?
Can I sell my house before the HIP is ready
What happens if my property is not registered
How much does a HIP cost
What happens after I have placed my order
When and how do I pay for the HIP
How am I updated of progress
How do I receive my HIP
How long does a HIP last
What if my sale falls through
What if I change Estate Agent
What if I change agents and marketing began before a HIP was required
Can I order online ?

Do I Need a HIP?

If you are putting your home on the open market you must order a HIP before marketing commences. There are some exceptions to this rule including houses sold without vacant possession, houses with agricultural land or other linked commercial property, unsafe properties.

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Can I market my house before the HIP is ready

Yes, as long as certain documents are available, namely the index, sale statement, property information questionnaire and land registry documents. 

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What does 'Registered' mean

The Land Registry is a central register of information relating to land ownership in the country. For a registered property there is a map showing the property outline and a register with details of ownership and any charges e.g. mortgage company names against the register. The register was introduced different areas from around 1900 onwards with the whole of England and Wales finally being covered by 1990. If a property has been sold since 1990 it has to be registered on the land registry.

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What happens if my property is not registered

If your property is not registered then an 'Epitome of title' has to be included in the HIP. This is a collection of legal documents proving ownership, for example title deeds and contracts from your purchase.

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How much does a HIP cost

You can follow the simple "Get Started" prompt on our web site which gives you an instant on line quote for the basic HIP in your postcode. You can then use the options to fine tune your requirements and the "Get Price" button to find the total cost.

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What happens after I have placed my order

Once you have placed your order we will review the details and send you an email confirming acceptance of the order. At this stage the contract to produce a hip is completed. The email will contain details on how to logon to the system monitor progress, complete vendor forms and view the final HIP.

You must complete at a bare minimum the sale statement for inclusion in the pack, this confirms the property for sale and who is selling it.

Once the hip is complete you will receive an email and you can view, download or print it from the site. 

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When and how do I pay for the HIP

Once you have completed the details of your order you will be able to pay online securely by debit or credit card. If for any reason your order is not accepted your payment will be refunded as per our terms and conditions.

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How am I updated of progress

You will receive an email as soon as the order is accepted. This will give you details of how to logon to the secure web site to monitor progress. You will aslo receive an email as soon as the pack is available and the order completed.

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How do I receive my HIP

The basic HIP will be provided electronically via a secure web site. You will receive a e-mail confirming when it is ready for you to view, print copies etc.

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How long does a HIP last

The HIP itself lasts as long as it takes you to sell your home, however, some of the documents contained within the HIP do have a limited life, principally the Local Authority searches which will become out of date after three months. It is likely that buyers will have to pay to obtain their own searches after they go out of date. At the moment the EPC also has a life of only twelve months although this is still under discussion.

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What if my sale falls through.

As long as you put your home back on the market within 28 days of a sale falling through then the original HIP will still be valid. In the same way you can take your home off the market and put it back on again without the need for a new HIP as long as it is within one year of first putting the house on the market.

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What if I change Estate Agents.

If you have pre paid for your HIP then you should be able to use it with any Estate Agent (Subject to their policy), if the HIP is not pre paid then it will still belong to the HIP provider and you will need their consent to change Estate Agents.

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What if I change agents and marketing began before a HIP was required

As long as continuous marketing is maintained then you will not need to get a HIP, nobody has defined continuous, but it would seem adviseable to ensure that the new agent commences marketing on the same day as the old one stops otherwise you may become liable to get a new HIP. Some agents may insist on you getting a new HIP anyway depending on their company policy. There will be a date in the future after which all houses on the market will have to have a HIP regardless of when they came on the market, but this has not been announced yet.

 

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Can I order online?

Yes, just enter your postcode and get an instant quote. Select the HIP you want and order online with secure payment

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