Estate Agents set to pocket from HIPS

At a time when more and more people are becoming disgruntled at the amount of fees and commissions estate agents scrape off property deals, they look likely to benefit again when they accept 'kickbacks' from Home Information Pack suppliers for each HIP sold.

The typical HIP will most likely cost home sellers between £350-£450, but agents will pocket at least a quarter of that amount in commissions paid by new companies set up to provide HIPs.

Some companies will add the estate agents cut to the price of a Home Information Pack while others offer agents the option of setting the price to include a commission.

Either way, it looks more than likely that the price of a HIP will be pushed up in order to line the estate agents pocket.