What Documents do I Need to Sell My Home?

Note: This guide covers property sales in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different legal systems and documentation requirements.

Selling your home? Don’t underestimate the paperwork.

The right documents can make or break your sale – literally.

Forget one form or certificate, and you could delay things by weeks or even lose the buyer. Over the last three years at Property Rescue, we’ve completed over 500 property purchases, and we’ve seen firsthand how missing paperwork can stall a sale. In one case, a seller had been on the market for 10 months because their solicitor kept delaying the TA6 Property Information Form – the buyer eventually walked away.

So, whether you’re working with an estate agent or going for a faster sale, here’s everything you’ll need to keep your sale moving.

Legal Ownership and Identity

1. Proof of Identity (Anti-Money Laundering Requirement)

Selling property in the UK? The law says you’ll need to prove who you are – no exceptions.

Here’s what’s required:

Photo ID:
A valid UK passport or driving licence.

Proof of address:
Recent utility bill or bank statement (within the last 3 months).

Why? Because of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. Everyone involved in a property sale – buyers, sellers, even estate agents – must be verified under The Money Laundering Regulations 2017.

2. Title Deeds

Your title deeds prove you’re the legal owner – and show what you actually own.

If your property is registered (most are), your solicitor can access the title deeds via HM Land Registry – it’s all digital these days. You can also order your own title register online for £7.

If your property is unregistered (common with older homes), you’ll need the original paper title deeds – often kept by your solicitor, or held by you if you’ve paid off your mortgage. Historically, mortgage lenders held deeds, but most now register charges electronically.

Lost your deeds? You can still sell, but you’ll need to apply for a “possessory title” – and that adds time, cost, and risk. Alternatively, your solicitor may arrange indemnity insurance to cover the buyer’s risk.

Property Information and Disclosures

3. TA6 Form (Property Information Form)

This is the big one.

The TA6 Form is a legally binding disclosure document where you outline key details about the property, such as:

• Boundaries
• Planning permissions
• Guarantees and warranties
• Disputes with neighbours
• Building work
• Parking arrangements
• Council tax band
• Utility providers

Why it matters: Buyers rely on this for decision-making. Miss out key info, and it could cost you the sale – or worse, spark a legal dispute later on.

The Law Society provides guidance on completing property information forms, though your solicitor will typically help you complete this accurately.

4. TA10 Form (Fittings and Contents Form)

Think: “what’s included in the sale?”

The TA10 lists all the items you’ll leave behind (like integrated appliances, carpets, garden furniture).

It’s about setting expectations – and avoiding those awkward post-sale phone calls from your buyer wondering where the washing machine went.

5. TA7 Form (Leasehold Information Form)

This one’s only for leasehold properties.

It covers:

• Ground rent
• Service charges
• Lease length
• Freeholder and management company details
• Planned works and disputes

Certificates and Compliance Documents

6. EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)

This one’s a legal requirement.

If you’re selling in England or Wales, you must commission a valid Energy Performance Certificate before you market your home. There’s a 7-day grace period if the EPC assessment is in progress but not yet completed (Gov.uk, 2026).

Key facts:

• Validity: 10 years from date of issue
• What it shows: Your property’s energy efficiency, rated from A (best) to G (worst)
• Where to get it: Any accredited domestic energy assessor (find one via the EPC register)
• Cost: Typically £60-£120
• Timeframe: Usually completed within 3-5 days of assessment

Note for October 2026 onwards: New EPCs will move to a multi-metric format including Energy Cost Rating, Fabric Performance Rating, Heating System Rating, and Smart Readiness Indicator (Gov.uk reforms).

7. Building Regulation Completion Certificates and Planning Permissions

Have you had building work done?

Then you’ll need to show it was done legally and signed off.

Documents you might need:

• Building regulation approval/completion certificate (for structural changes like extensions, loft conversions, new bathrooms)
• FENSA certificate (for replacement windows and doors)
• Gas Safe certificate (for boiler installations or gas work)
• Electrical safety certificate (Part P for rewiring or electrical installations)
• Planning permission approval (if works required it)

When are these required?
Building regulations approval is needed for structural changes, extensions, loft conversions, new bathrooms/kitchens involving plumbing changes, electrical rewiring, and new boiler installations. Minor repairs and like-for-like replacements typically don’t require approval.

No paperwork? You might be able to use indemnity insurance to cover the buyer’s risk. However, indemnity won’t work if your local council has already raised an enforcement notice, or if the buyer’s mortgage lender refuses to accept it. Your solicitor can arrange indemnity policies (typically £20-£200 for a one-off premium), but retrospective building regulations approval is often a better solution for major works.

8. Guarantee and Warranty Certificates

These can instill confidence in various structural aspects of the property. They are not required, but are good to have if applicable.

Typical examples:

• NHBC warranty: If your home’s a new build (usually covers 10 years from completion)
• Damp proofing guarantees
• Roofing warranties
• Cavity wall insulation guarantees
• Structural warranties (for major building works)

Selling a new build (less than 10 years old)?
Buyers will expect to see the NHBC certificate or equivalent structural warranty, plus adoption agreements for roads and sewers if these haven’t yet been adopted by the local authority. Contact your developer or builder if you can’t locate these documents.

Mortgage and Financial Documentation

9. Mortgage Details

Your solicitor will need to contact your lender to:

• Confirm how much is left on the mortgage
• Arrange to clear it on completion
• Obtain the final redemption statement

If you have a second charge, equity loan, or a Help to Buy agreement – these must also be settled as part of the sale.

Second charge = additional loan secured against your property (e.g., secured loan or second mortgage)
Equity loan = government loan used to purchase the property (typically Help to Buy scheme)

10. Management Information Pack (for Leasehold or Shared Ownership)

Selling a leasehold or shared ownership property?

You’ll need this pack – ordered from the freeholder or managing agent. It often takes 4-8 weeks to arrive, so get the ball rolling on this ASAP.

What it includes:

• Ground rent and service charge accounts (typically last 3 years)
• Buildings insurance details and schedule
• Major works plans and Section 20 notices
• Dispute history
• Lease terms and restrictions
• Managing agent contact details
• Freeholder details

Heads up:
You’ll usually have to pay for this. Costs vary – but expect around £200-£500 depending on your managing agent. Some agents charge more, particularly in London.

Special Circumstances

Selling an inherited property or acting on someone else’s behalf? The documentation requirements change significantly.

11. Probate Documentation

Selling a property as part of someone’s estate? You’ll need to prove you’re legally allowed to sell.

Key documents include:

• Grant of Probate (if there’s a will)
• Letters of Administration (if no will)
• Official Death Certificate (original or certified copy)
• ID documents for all executors or administrators (for AML compliance)

Important:
Probate must be completed before the sale can go through – though you can market the property in the meantime.

For more details, refer to the gov.uk PA1P form (if there is a will) or PA1A form (if there is no will), and ensure all required supporting documents are in place.

Typical timeframe: You’ll usually get probate within 12 weeks of submitting the application. Online applications for straightforward estates are often processed in 6-8 weeks, while paper applications can take 12-16 weeks. Complex cases (involving international assets or contested wills) may take longer.

12. Power of Attorney

Selling on someone else’s behalf? You’ll need:

• A valid Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Property and Financial Affairs or Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
• It must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian

This applies if you’re selling on behalf of someone who lacks capacity. Important: An LPA for Health and Welfare does not grant authority to sell property – it must specifically be a Property and Financial Affairs LPA. If there’s no registered LPA/EPA, you may need authority from the Court of Protection as a property and affairs deputy. Deputies should check their court order carefully – some require separate court permission to sell property.

Optional but Helpful

13. Indemnity Insurance Documents

Lost a FENSA certificate? Converted a loft without permission?

Don’t panic. You can often get indemnity insurance instead of delaying your sale or applying for retrospective approval.

Common uses:

• Lack of building regulations sign-off
• No boiler installation certificate
• Unauthorised alterations (e.g., loft conversion, extension)
• Missing planning permission for older works
• Lack of adoption agreements for roads/sewers on new builds

How it works:
Indemnity insurance protects the buyer (and their lender) from financial loss if the council later takes enforcement action. Policies typically cost £20-£200 for a one-off premium payment. The benefit of the policy is tied to the property, meaning it usually transfers to future owners and their lenders if the property is sold again.

Limitations:
Indemnity insurance won’t work if:

• The council has already raised an enforcement notice
• The buyer’s mortgage lender refuses to accept it (some lenders won’t for major structural works)
• The issue is ongoing or likely to cause future problems

Your solicitor can advise whether indemnity is appropriate for your situation.

14. Survey Reports (Optional)

A recent RICS HomeBuyer Report or full structural survey can give buyers more confidence – and help you negotiate from a position of clarity.

Normally the buyer orders these, but if the seller has them already it can help speed things up. The homebuyer surveys will look for things like:

• Damp
• Subsidence
• Roof defects
• Japanese knotweed
• Structural movement
• Drainage issues

Avoiding Delays: Get Organised Early

If there’s one thing that slows down house sales in the UK, it’s missing paperwork.

Here’s how to stay ahead of the curve:

Start gathering documents before you list

Don’t wait for a buyer. Start collecting everything now. That includes:

• Title deeds (or access to Land Registry online)
• EPC (commission this first – it’s legally required before marketing)
• TA6, TA10, and TA7 forms (your solicitor will provide these, but gather the information in advance)
• Building certificates and planning approvals
• Guarantees and warranties
• Mortgage details and redemption statement
• Management Information Pack (if leasehold – order immediately)
• Probate or Power of Attorney documents (if applicable)

Engage a solicitor early

A good solicitor will:

• Help you complete forms accurately
• Spot issues before your buyer does
• Chase managing agents and third parties for key docs
• Advise on indemnity insurance vs retrospective approvals

This alone can shave weeks off your sale timeline.

In our experience, slow solicitors are one of the main reasons properties sit on the market for 6+ months. We’ve seen sales collapse after solicitor delays of 10 months causing the buyer to walk away.

Selling leasehold? Order your management pack immediately

It can take 4–8 weeks to get – and many leasehold sales fall apart while buyers wait around.

Don’t let a £300 admin pack cost you a £400,000 sale.

Sell to Property Rescue for a Faster Sale

Want to skip all the admin?

Here’s how we make selling blissfully simple.

We Buy for Cash

No buyers dropping out. No mortgage delays. Just a certain sale – on your terms.

Once the offer is accepted and an independent survey is completed, the sale is guaranteed. No risk of fall-through.

We Handle the Paperwork

Forget EPCs. Forget solicitor fees. Forget chasing building certificates.

We take care of it all.

Legal Fees? We Pay Them

You won’t pay a penny in legal costs – and we work with trusted, fast-moving solicitors who specialise in quick completions.

Timeline Flexibility

Need to move quickly? We can exchange contracts in as little as 48 hours.

Need more time? No problem – we’ll work to your schedule. Our typical completion time is 2-4 weeks from offer acceptance, but we’ve completed sales in as little as 7 days for a repossession case in Kent.

Any Condition, Any Situation

We buy properties:

• With missing documents
• In poor condition
• Mid-probate
• With short leases
• Even with problem tenants

Across 350+ sales, our average completion time is 28 days. About 95% of Property Rescue sales complete within four weeks after offer acceptance.

Because of our Sale and Rent Back service, we’re one of the only house buying companies in the UK that’s regulated by the FCA (Register 522471). We’re also founding members of the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB).

Quick Reference: Document Checklist

Very Important (Required for Most Sales)

• ✓ Mortgage redemption statement (if property has mortgage)
• ✓ Building regulation certificates (if you’ve done building work)
• ✓ Planning permissions (if applicable)
• ✓ Gas Safe / electrical certificates (if work done in last 5-10 years)

Leasehold-Specific

• ✓ TA7 Leasehold Information Form
• ✓ Management Information Pack (order 8+ weeks in advance)
• ✓ Lease document
• ✓ Ground rent and service charge details

Shared Ownership-Specific

• ✓ Shared Ownership lease
• ✓ Staircasing certificates (if applicable)
• ✓ Housing association consent to sell

New Build-Specific (less than 10 years old)

• ✓ NHBC warranty or equivalent structural warranty
• ✓ Adoption agreements for roads/sewers (if not yet adopted)

Special Circumstances

• ✓ Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration (if selling inherited property)
• ✓ Death certificate (original or certified copy)
• ✓ Lasting Power of Attorney (if selling on behalf of someone else)

Helpful (Not Required but Can Speed Things Up)

• ✓ Warranties and guarantees (damp proofing, roofing, NHBC)
• ✓ FENSA certificates (replacement windows)
• ✓ Indemnity insurance policies (if applicable)
• ✓ Recent survey reports (if you have them)