Selling a property isn’t just about sprucing the place from top to bottom. You also need to gather up various documents – a simple but crucial part of the process.
Getting these ready for your estate agent and other professionals means you’ll avoid delays. You can share key information with prospective buyers, too.
Here, we outline the documents you may need. Some of these are legally required, others are just good to keep at hand.
ID and address
When you first put your home on the market, you’ll need to show your estate agent:
- Photographic identification, such as your driving licence or passport
- Proof of your address, such as a bank statement or utility bill that’s no more than three months old
Property title deeds
If your house is on the HM Land Register, they’ll have a digital file showing you own the property. You can download a copy by paying a small fee. You might also want a physical copy of the title deeds to provide extra information, such as the physical boundaries of your property. If you can’t find the original paper deeds, ask the solicitor or conveyancer who helped with the house purchase. Alternatively, your mortgage provider might have them on file.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
This shows how energy efficient your house is – and helps potential buyers estimate their heating bills.
If you bought your house within the last ten years, you can find your property’s EPC on the online register. If you bought over ten years ago or you’ve improved your energy efficiency – by adding insulation, for example – you may need to commission a new EPC. Ask your estate agent to recommend an accredited assessor or find more information on the government website.
Property information form
Your solicitor will give you a TA6 form, which is a standard questionnaire on your property. You’ll be legally required to answer the questions, including:
- Have you done any building work?
- Who is responsible for the property's physical boundaries, such as fences?
- Do you have any legal disputes with the neighbours?
- Does Japanese Knotweed affect your home?
- Is the property listed? In a conservation area?
Share any relevant information that could affect a buyer’s decision – and share it early. The last thing you want is a buyer pulling out because they were unaware of an issue.
Fittings and contents form
Prepare for more paperwork from your solicitor. This time, it’s the details of what you will include in the sale of the property (a TA10 form). For example:
- Which white goods will you leave in the kitchen or utility room?
- Will you leave the carpets and curtains? How about the curtain rails?
- The fireplaces? Radiators?
- What about the garden shed? Any outdoor furniture?
Take your time to communicate precisely what’s included and excluded – it’ll save you from problems later on.
Certificates and guarantees
If you’ve made any changes to the property – such as extending into the garden – a buyer will want to see that you’ve complied with building regulations and done the work to a high standard. Gather up any relevant documents, such as:
- Planning permission and building regulation certificates
- Consent forms (if your property is in a conservation area)
- A FENSA certificate (if you’ve added double glazing)
- Gas Safe certificates for new or repaired boilers
Additionally, you could be asked for details of:
- Any unfinished building and alteration work
- Buildings or alterations carried out that you don’t have permission for
Management packs and TA7 forms for leaseholds
These forms are sometimes filled out by your solicitor or conveyancer, and collect information on a leasehold property. They look at areas such as:
- Service charges and ground rent
- Any plans for new works
- The building’s insurance policy
- Asbestos surveys
Final thoughts
Putting together your paperwork can be time–consuming. But once it’s done, you can focus on the excitement of your next property venture.
