In case of hire-purchase, the hirer has an option to buy the goods.

Explanation:

Hire-purchase is a method of purchasing goods where the ownership of the goods is transferred to the hirer only after the payment of all installments. It is a contractual agreement between the owner of the goods (the hire vendor) and the hirer (the person who wants to purchase the goods).

Ownership of Goods:
- In hire-purchase, the ownership of the goods remains with the hire vendor until the hirer completes all the installments.
- The hirer is considered as a bailee or a person in possession of the goods but does not have legal ownership.

Option to Buy:
- One of the key features of hire-purchase is that the hirer has an option to buy the goods at the end of the hire-purchase agreement.
- This means that the hirer has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the goods after making all the necessary payments.
- The option to buy is usually mentioned in the hire-purchase agreement, specifying the price at which the goods can be purchased.

Return of Goods:
- Unlike other forms of borrowing or leasing, in hire-purchase, the hirer is not obligated to return the goods at the end of the agreement.
- Instead, the hirer has the choice to either return the goods or exercise the option to buy them.

Completion of Payments:
- The hirer becomes the legal owner of the goods only after completing all the installments as per the hire-purchase agreement.
- Once the hirer has paid all the necessary payments, the ownership of the goods is transferred from the hire vendor to the hirer.

Conclusion:
- In hire-purchase, the hirer has the option to buy the goods at the end of the agreement.
- This distinguishes hire-purchase from other forms of borrowing or leasing, where the goods must be returned.
- The option to buy allows the hirer to assess the performance and suitability of the goods before making a final decision to purchase them.