Home information packs (HIPs) purchased from estate agents can cost 50% more than those bought directly from specialist HIP providers such as law firms and conveyancing practices, new research indicates.

On average, HIPs from estate agents cost about £110 more than HIPs from specialist providers, according to a survey by consumer organisation Which? Money.

For a three-bedroom, freehold semi-detached property, the cheapest specialist HIP provider, Fridays Property Lawyers, charged £189 – £224 less than the £413 charged by most expensive estate agent, Halifax.

For a two-bedroom leasehold flat, specialist HIP provider Hip Save charged £224 – £292 less than the £516 charged by the most expensive estate agent, Spicerhaart.

Direct providers tended to offer the cheapest HIPs, but prices between them varied by as much as £191.

Which? Money surveyed some of the largest estate agencies and a selection of specialist HIP providers on what they charge for a standard HIP for a three-bedroom freehold semi and a two-bedroom leasehold flat in Balham, London. Which? Money said that the vast majority of HIP providers and estate agents have fixed fees for properties, which are not dependent on size, value or location.

FREEHOLD LEASEHOLD
Cost of HIP (£) Incl. VAT (£) Cost of HIP (£) Incl. VAT (£)
DIRECT HIP PROVIDERS
Fridays property lawyers 164 189 199 229
HIP save 165 190 195 224
Promise homepacks 179 206 209 240
Anglia Home Surveys 197 227 217 250
Economy HIP 198 228 228 262
Click HIPS 210 242 250 288
thehipsolution.com 225 259 240 276
HIP2SELL 249 286 249 286
Absolute HIP 290 334 310 357
hiphiphorray.com 330 380 360 414
HIP PROVIDERS' AVERAGE
221 254 246 283   ESTATE AGENTS Savills(A) 254 292 254 292 Sequence Group (B) 299 344 299 344 Foxtons 299 344 299 344 Andrews(C) 299 344 299 344 Connells(D) 349 401 349 401 Countrywide 349 401 399 459 Spicerhaart 349 401 449 516 Halifax 359 413 398 458
ESTATE AGENTS' AVERAGE
320 368 343 395