If you are planning on selling a property, you can get off to a flying start by putting together the necessary documents beforehand. Find out what your solicitor will require and what forms you will need to fill in.
When you sell a property, the buyer’s solicitor will need to see a wide range of information. If you collate this in advance, your solicitor will be able to send the contract package out promptly, potentially reducing the time taken to reach the exchange of contracts.
While you will provide most of the paperwork, your estate agent and solicitor will assist with one or two items.
Documents for selling a house
The main items needed are as follows:
- Passport or driving licence plus proof of address to verify your identity
- An official copy of the property’s title and plan
- A valid Energy Performance Certificate
- Property Information form plus documents referred to in the form
- Fixtures and Fittings list
- Planning consents and building regulations approvals
- Other relevant information
Proof of identity
You will usually have to verify your identity several times when dealing with property matters, including with your estate agent, your solicitor and, if you are also buying a property with a mortgage, your lender. The usual documents accepted for this purpose are a valid passport or full driving licence plus an up-to-date bank statement or utility bill showing your address.
A copy of the title to the property
Your solicitor will obtain a copy of the official title to your property and an official plan from HM Land Registry. They will also provide the buyer’s solicitor with copies of any documents referred to in the official title. You will be asked to confirm whether you are aware of any breach of covenants and conditions mentioned in the title.
Energy Performance Certificate
When you put your property on the market, you will need to provide the estate agent and potential purchasers with a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If one is not available, it must have been commissioned before the property is marketed and supplied to the estate agent within seven days if possible, or within 21 days at the most.
An EPC sets out details of the property’s energy efficiency along with recommendations for improvements. It is valid for ten years. However, if you have carried out work to the property that is likely to result in a better EPC rating, you may want to have a new assessment carried out.
If your property does not have a valid EPC in place, your estate agent may be able to arrange for an assessor to visit to provide this. A fee is payable to the assessor.
Property Information form and Fixtures and Fittings List
You will need to fill in a Property Information Form or TA6 which includes a wide range of questions about the property and its use. Topics include knowledge of boundaries, disputes and alterations to the building. Your solicitor will provide you with this form.
If you state that guarantees have been issued, for example, for windows or damp-proofing, you will need to provide these. If the property was built in the past ten years, you will also need to provide a copy of your new home warranty issued by the NHBC or similar body.
In addition, you will need to fill in a Fixtures and Fittings list or form TA10. This forms part of the contract and will list the items that you are including in the sale as well as any items that the buyer will be purchasing.
Planning consents and building regulations approvals
If alterations or extensions have been made to the property, you will need to supply the relevant planning consents and the building regulations certificates confirming that the works have been signed off.
Other relevant documents for selling a house
Depending on the property you are selling, there may be other relevant paperwork that the buyer will need.
In particular, if you are selling a leasehold property, a substantial amount of information will be needed from the freeholder or their managing agent, including:
- Management accounts for the past three years
- Confirmation that the ground rent and service charge payments are up to date
- Confirmation that the terms of the lease have not been breached
- A copy of the buildings insurance
- Details of any proposed works or work that will be needed to property in the foreseeable future
- The amount held in any sinking fund to cover future large items of expenditure
- Details of any disputes or late payments by other tenants
- Company information if the tenants have formed a management company
The buyer’s solicitor will need a copy of the lease and you will also need to complete a second property information form in respect of leasehold issues.
Once the buyer’s solicitor has all of the relevant information together with the search results, they will usually compile a list of additional enquiries to be answered.
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