Consumer group Which? asserts that there is little indication that Home Information Packs (Hips) are making it easier or cheaper to either buy or sell a property.
In a recent report Which? found that many potential buyers and sellers experience difficulty in getting sight of a Hip, even though they have been required by law since last year.
Undercover reporters for Which? who approached a number of estate agents posing as potential buyers, found it difficult to obtaining a copy of the pack for the property in which they expressed an interest.
The investigators also found that quotes for the cost of the packs varied greatly, from £234 to £539; some agents had a flat fee, while others based their quotes on property type or whether it was freehold or leasehold. |
