Common questions

• How do I get the HIP for a property?
• Is the information reliable?
• Will I still need a survey?
• Will I still need a valuation?
• How can I find out more?

Get in touch with the person selling the property or the advertising estate agent. They must provide you with access to a HIP free of charge.

However, estate agents can make a reasonable charge to cover copying and postage.

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Yes. The Home Condition Reports and Energy Performance Certificates and searches are put together by accredited companies.

The Energy Performance Certificate cannot be more than one year old. And if certain documents (such as the legal searches) are more than three months old, your solicitor, conveyancer or mortgage provider may ask you to commission your own updated versions.

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It depends. The Home Condition Report doesn't give you the same level of information that you'd get from a full structural survey.

And remember that the Home Condition Report is an optional part of the HIP - so the seller may not have provided one.

Either way, it could be wise to commission a full survey.

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Yes - because a HIP doesn't include a valuation. In most cases, your mortgage lender will arrange a valuation.

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The UK government has produced a website with useful information on HIPs.

• HIPs website from the UK government

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