What essential paperwork do I need to sell my house?

You’re ready to put your home on the market, that’s amazing! We know how exciting your next chapter can be, but you’ll have a lot to sort out before moving on.

From finding an estate agent and conveyancer to organising viewings and valuations. And then there’s the paperwork. You’ll need to provide some evidence when you’re selling your property, like proof of ownership, safety certificates, ID and more.

Let’s break down all the paperwork and documents you’re likely going to need when selling your home here. Let’s get into it.

Verifying your identity is an important step when selling your home. Hopefully, you’ll have proof of your identity handy, but if you don’t have any form of ID, you’re going to need to get one. The most accepted forms of ID include a passport or driving licence.

Estate agents, legal representatives (conveyancers or solicitors) and mortgage lenders are all going to need to confirm your identity to prevent offences such as money laundering and fraud.

You’ll need to provide copies of your ID like a passport or driver’s licence. Proof of address is also typically needed, such as a utility bill in your name.

Another key document you’ll need when selling a home is the title deeds, which proves you’re the legal owner of the property.

If you can’t find it, check with your mortgage lender first, to see if they’re holding onto it for safekeeping. Your conveyancer or solicitor who handled the initial purchase is also another good place to check.

Also, your current conveyancer or solicitor will need to obtain official deeds from the Land Registry anyway on your behalf, so you shouldn’t have an issue at all.

Before listing your home for sale, you’ll need an EPC – it’s a legal requirement to provide this. But if you don’t have one it’s no issue, getting an EPC is straightforward. Your estate agent will almost always be there to support you here.

If you’ve bought your home in the last 10 years, you may already have a valid EPC that can be used. You can check using the register’s EPC retrieval page, search for your property’s EPC by postcode.

If you need a new assessment because yours has expired, or perhaps you’ve made alterations to your home, an energy assessor will visit your home and provide an A to G rating on how efficient the home is, with A being the most efficient. This helps buyers understand the costs of running the property before purchasing. You can search for an accredited energy assessor here.

If a property is listed without a valid EPC, the seller and agent could face fines of up to £5,000. We’d recommend avoiding this by getting an accredited domestic energy assessor to come and assess your home.

The assessor can also recommend tips for improvements to make your home greener. While a higher rating is obviously ideal, don’t stress too much if your home gets a lower grade. There are always improvements to be made, some buyers will value other characteristics over its EPC rating.

Once you’ve agreed to sell your home, it’s time to fill out the TA6 form, also called the property information form. This provides key details about your home to potential buyers so they can make an informed decision.

The form covers things like:

• Property boundaries
• Any disputes/complaints
• Renovations and alterations
• Warranties and protections against things like damp
• Insurance information
• Environmental factors like flood risk and Japanese knotweed
• Rights and agreements
• Parking arrangements like driveways, garages, shared driveways etc.
• Fees paid to management companies, cost and frequency
• Who occupies the property
• Utility connections like gas, electric and water

Find an example of the TA6 here.

The TA6 helps paint a full picture of your property for buyers. It’s straightforward to fill out, but if you need support, talk to your conveyancer.

If you’re selling a leasehold home, you’ll need to fill out a TA7 form, the TA7 will supply information about the leasehold of the property, including essential information for any buyer.

The TA7 summarises key details about the lease for potential buyers, like:

• Services charges
• Ground rent amount
• Planned major repairs
• Building insurance policy information
• Details of any management company formed by tenants
• Asbestos surveys
• External wall fire safety reviews

Find an example TA7 form here.

Similarly to the other TA forms, it’s your job as the seller to fill this out, but if you need some guidance talk to your estate agent or conveyancer.

Selling a home means deciding what stays in that home and what goes with you. The TA10 fittings and contents form help make this clear for buyers.

First, understand the difference between fixtures (like installed kitchens, flooring, and built-ins) and fittings (removable items like furniture and curtains). The TA10 outlines what fixtures and fittings will be included or excluded from the sale.

Here’s what the form covers:

• Appliances like boilers and heating systems
• Kitchen – notes which appliances and cabinets stay
• Bathroom – shower, mirrors, rails etc.
• Carpets – fitted carpets etc.
• Curtains – curtains, curtain rails, blinds, etc.
• Light fittings
• Fitted units – like fitted cupboards or shelves
• Outdoor space – patio furniture, sheds, etc.
• Television and telephone – telephone receivers, television aerial, satellite dish, etc.
• Stock of fuel – for burning appliances like log burners
• Other items – anything included or excluded not stated above

Find a copy of the TA10 form here.

The TA10 form becomes legally binding once the sales contracts are swapped on exchange. It may feel like a tedious list, but this detail avoids buyer confusion down the road.

Be aware that you may need to enter negotiations with the buyer if you’re both after slightly different things. For example, the buyer may want you to take all the blinds and curtains/curtain rails when you didn’t plan to. Your estate agent or conveyancer can guide you if needed.