Home Condition Surveys (HCS)
The Home Condition Survey (HCS) is for buyers not sellers. It provides an independent survey prior to purchase. The Home Condition Report is produced for the seller to include in a Home Information Pack.
If you are buying a property, it is always advisable to commission an independent survey and the HCS can provide you with the detail you need to make an informed decision. Remember that a mortgage lender's Valuation Report only answers the lender's questions about appropriate security for your loan; it is not reliable as an indication of the condition of a property.
The HCS follows the same principles as a Home Condition Report. It is written in plain English and uses condition ratings to assess each element of a property. It includes photos of any defects or faults. However, the HCS is not placed on the central HCR Register; it does not include automatically an EPC as a house that is up for sale should already have one as part of a HIP, but an EPC can be added if required. The HCS does not include a valuation.
For information on the detailed contents of a Home Condition Survey, see the answer to our HCS question.
Scale of charges
The HCS is cheaper than a Home Condition Report and the charge also depends on the size of the property:
1 bedroom £240.00
2 bedroom £250.00
3 bedroom £270.00
4 bedroom £300.00
5 bedroom £320.00
Midland HIPs can produce an HCS for properties across the Midlands. All charges are for locations within 10 miles of Midland HIPs offices in Cofton Hackett, B45. A 10% surcharge will be added up to a maximum of 20 miles.
For more information, contact Midland HIPs today on 0800 612 6208.
