The Law Society has expressed concern about offers of free HIPs, as made by estate agents such as Hamptons and Douglas & Gordon, pointing to lock-in clauses which might result in fines if vendors decide to take their homes off the market or instruct a different agent.

Deputy vice-chairman Paul Marsh said: "Say you go to an estate agency and they agree to pay for the HIP but you want to move to another agent — you ought to be able to take it with you for nothing, not pay a £500 exit fee.

Can Mr Marsh really not foresee a possible circumstance in which such a system might be open to abuse? If not, the Rat and Mouse recommends he gets in touch immediately, since he's exactly the kind of guy we can do business with.

[via Daily Mail]

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