What Paperwork Do I Need To Sell My House In The UK?

What Paperwork Do I Need To Sell My House? 12 Must-Haves!
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Selling a house means a lot of paperwork. It’s one of those unavoidable facts – and we’re afraid there’s no way around it. But what paperwork do I need to sell my house?

When it comes to selling, the more prepared you are, the less likely you are to hit potential delays that knock you off track.

So, to help you get your documents prepared and in order early on for a smooth and stress-free sale, we’ve listed the 12 essential documents you will need to sell your house in the UK. 

1. Proof of identity 

First and foremost, you need paperwork to prove you are who you say you are. Because of anti-money laundering regulations that are in place within the UK, estate agents, legal representatives, and mortgage lenders are legally required to verify your identity.

To do this, you’ll need to provide proof of ID and address. You’ll also need to provide two separate documents for your ID and your address. For example, you cannot use your driving licence to prove both parts. 

Acceptable forms of proof are: 

Proof of nameProof of address
Current signed passportUtility bill issued within the last three months
Birth certificate Council tax bill
Current UK driving licenceCurrent UK driving licence (if not already used for proof of ID)
Photographic registration cards for self-employed individuals in the construction industry -CIS4Bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement, or original mortgage statement
National identity card bearing a photograph of the applicantNHS Medical card or letter of confirmation from GP’s practice 
Benefit book or original notification letter from Benefits AgencyCouncil or housing association rent card or tenancy agreement

For more information on what can be used to prove your ID, find the official government list here. 

2. Land Registry title deeds

Title deeds prove your ownership of a property – and thus mean that you can legally sell it. Normally, your solicitor will provide these when you purchase a property, but you can obtain a copy from Land Registry for a small fee if you cannot locate it

Interestingly, a small percentage of UK land and property (around 15%) remains unregistered. If your property falls into this category, you’ll need to apply for “first registration” to establish legal ownership.

This process requires specialist legal assistance, so it’s recommended to consult a conveyancing solicitor who can help you compile the necessary documentation and submit your application.

If you’ve changed your name or any of your details since you purchased your house, you will also need to apply to have these details changed with the Land Registry.

These changes can take a while to complete, so it’s recommended that you start this process before your property goes on the market to avoid any delays further down the line. 

3. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

It’s a legal requirement to have an EPC on any properties that are sold in the UK. This provides buyers with information about your home’s energy efficiency, using a rating system from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).

EPCs are valid for 10 years from the date they were last issued. So, if you’ve purchased your property within that time, you might still have one available. You can see if you already have an EPC by using this website. 

Even if you already have an EPC, you may choose to have it renewed if you’ve done a lot of work and upgrades on your property since its last rating.

Having an updated and more energy-efficient score could make your house look more attractive to potential buyers, so this is something to bear in mind. 

Despite having a proxy for the sale, aka your estate agent, ensuring an EPC is available for prospective buyers still falls on you, the seller (Watson, 2010).

However, a competent agent will assist in double-checking that your EPC is valid before marketing your property – and will be able to help you obtain or update your certificate if required. 

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4. Boiler and gas safety certificates

A boiler safety certificate shows that your boiler was installed and certified to all necessary building regulations. If you lose your certificate, you can apply for a new one to be created from the records held by the Gas Safe Register. This certificate is essential. 

Gas safety certificates aren’t a legal requirement for most sellers (unless you’re a landlord!), but they provide evidence that your boiler has been checked and is safe. 

Having a recent certificate can reassure potential buyers, making your property more attractive. If you haven’t had a boiler service in some time, it can also be a good idea to book in with a Gas Safe professional to get an annual checkup and certification. 

5. FENSA or CERTASS certificates for windows

What paperwork you need to sell your house will depend on your individual circumstances. If you’ve replaced windows since moving into your property, you’ll need to provide a FENSA or CERTASS certificate.

These certificates confirm that the window or door installation meets building regulations and has been registered with the local council.

FENSA or CERTASS certificates are typically valid for 10 years, and you can search for existing certificates on the FENSA and CERTASS websites.

Or, read our guide on how to sell a house without a FENSA certificate for new homes and doors. 

6. Electrical certificates 

What paperwork do I need to sell my house? For electrical work post-2005, you'll need  a Part P Building Regulations Compliance Certificate.

If you’ve had electrical work carried out in your home since January 2005 that involved extending or altering the wiring, you are legally required to provide a Part P Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. This certificate demonstrates that the work meets the necessary safety standards. 

If you haven’t carried out any work since 2005, this certificate isn’t a requirement.

However, if you’ve done any other sort of electrical work, an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate can also be helpful documents to have on hand for your buyers. 

We didn’t know about this when we sold our first home. We installed underfloor heating in our bathroom, for which we should have had an EIC. But the installer couldn’t issue one as he wasn’t a qualified electrician.

To solve this we had to get a qualified electrician in to check the work and then issue us with an Electrical Installation Condition Report. Of course, this came at a cost, so there is a lesson to be learned here.

If you get any electrical work done, make sure it’s done by a qualified electrician and insist on the relevant certificates.

If you can’t find any of your electrical certificates, you can do the following: 

  • Try contacting the original electrician to see if they can provide a retrospective certificate.
  • Check online with your local authority or the NICEIC website for a copy.
  • Commission an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from a qualified electrician.

If you haven’t noticed a pattern yet, it’s this: the more certificates you have, the more you will put your buyers at ease. And while selling your home without an electrical certificate isn’t impossible, it does add more hassle and stress.

7. New build warranties

For properties less than 10 years old (aka new builds), you need to have a copy of your Buildmark policy from the National House Building Council (NHBC) or similar home policy or warranty documents. 

These warranties offer protection against structural defects for a specified period, typically 10 years. These home policy documents are essential to: 

Ensure standards

They demonstrate that the property was built to acceptable standards and has been inspected by a reputable organisation.

Confirm mortgage requirements

Many mortgage lenders require proof of a new home warranty before approving a loan for a property less than 10 years old.

Cover repairs or renovations

Settle the cost of rectifying certain structural defects that may arise within the warranty period.

And, like the other paperwork mentioned so far, having these documents ready and to hand makes your property more attractive to buyers, as it reduces their risk and potential future costs.

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8. Past or future planning permission and completed building regulation 

If you’ve made alterations or extensions to your property, you’ll need to provide evidence of the necessary approvals and consent. This includes copies of planning permissions, Building Regulations approvals, and completion certificates.

It’s crucial to disclose any building or alteration work carried out without the required consent and any unfinished projects. 

If you’re selling a listed building, you must provide details of any listed building consent obtained for interior and exterior works.

Similarly, if your property is in a conservation area where consent is required for certain works, you should gather evidence of compliance with local regulations.

When it comes to planning permission, you are legally required to disclose all applications. This includes any applications that were granted, refused, or still pending. 

When we bought our previous property, the seller couldn’t provide a completed building regulation certificate for the loft conversion. She told us that the local authority would provide the certificate if vents were installed in the two ensuite bathrooms.

But she didn’t have proof of that. And she wasn’t willing to install the vents either. To resolve the issue, we had to contact the local authority ourselves to get proof that if we installed the vents, they would provide us with the completed building regulations certificate.

So it all worked out in the end, but it did delay the process. We were even considering pulling out of the house sale at one point. This goes to show that it’s vital to have these documents in order when you come to sell your home.

9. Leasehold documents

Ideally, a leasehold information pack should be requested early on in the selling process.

If you’re selling a leasehold property, you’ll need your lease agreement, which outlines the terms of your ownership. If you can’t find it, you can obtain a copy from the Land Registry. 

Your solicitor will request a leasehold information pack (also known as a Management Information Pack) from the freeholder or managing agent. This process can take time, so initiating it early is essential.

This pack, along with other key documents, provides crucial information such as:

Lease terms

They will lay out agreements for service charges, ground rent, administration fees, and any planned major works (e.g., roof replacement). For example, green leases will require strict compliance with sustainability practices for renovations or replacements (Bright & Dixie, 2014).

Service charge documents

They will contain accounts, share certificates, memorandum and articles, buildings insurance details, and recent correspondence from the freeholder or managing agent.

Fire risk and other assessments

These may include asbestos surveys and external wall fire reviews.

You’ll also need to complete a Leasehold Management Pack or TA7 form, which summarizes key lease details like service charges, ground rent, planned works, building insurance, management company information, and any relevant surveys. 

If your property has a share of the freehold, you’ll need to provide relevant documentation for the freehold structure.

10. Any other warranties or guarantees

What paperwork do I need to sell my house? Well, when it comes to selling a house, there’s no such thing as too many certificates.

Gather any warranties you have for electrical goods or other fixtures and fittings that will remain with the property.

Even if you’ve had problems in the past, such as damp or Japanese knotweed, providing documentation such as receipts, guarantees, or warranties for the work undertaken will be an attractive sign for the buyer and will help your sale. 

The sellers of our current home were model sellers in that respect. They had folders full of everything to do with the house that they handed over. Even documents for things that were done or bought by the owner they bought if from.

This sped up the process as our solicitor had so much information that there weren’t too many enquiries to make.

11. Property Information Form (TA6)

The TA6 form is the quintessential answer to, "What paperwork do I need to sell my house?". It contains every basic information a buyer will need, such as property boundaries.

After agreeing on a sale, you’ll need to complete a Property Information Form, also known as a TA6. This provides your buyers with essential details about the property, including:

  • Your property boundaries;
  • Details of any building works ;
  • Whether the property is a listed building or located in a conservation area;
  • Which utilities are connected;
  • Guarantees included, such as damp proofing, timber treatment, electrical works, roofing, central heating, underpinning, windows, and glazed doors;

And more. It’s part of the legal pack prepared by the seller’s solicitor to provide the buyer with all the necessary information to make an informed decision about purchasing the property and to help speed up the sales process.

12. Fittings and Contents Form (TA10) 

Just like the TA6, the TA10 is another form involved in the legal pack after you’ve agreed to the sale of your property. Sometimes called the Fixtures and Fittings form, it details what’s included and what’s excluded from the sale of your property. 

It’s here where you’ll list all the fixtures and fittings of your home, including curtains, white goods and appliances (and whether or not you’re taking them with you when you move!) 

Just note – If you’ve said it’s included in this form, you must leave it behind. Otherwise, you may face a fine.

Be prepared with the documents you need to sell your house

So, what paperwork do I need to sell my house? Pretty much anything that has to do with your home is the answer.

Preparation is key. If you’re selling or about to sell your home, use this list of the 12 essential pieces of paperwork that you’ll be up against to help avoid any unnecessary delays and potential complications. 

And as we’ve pointed out, there’s no such thing as too much documentation. If you have more guarantees, warranties or information than the key 12 listed – make sure you include the information! The more information, the more at ease your buyers will be, increasing your chances of a smooth sale. 

If you’re ever unsure, make sure that you speak to your estate agent or conveyancer for advice. 

Looking for other ways to speed up your sale? Make sure that you avoid these Top 14 Common Mistakes When Selling A House

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    Founded in 2017, Property Road is one of the UK’s leading independent property websites for consumers, focused on educating buyers, sellers, investors, and homeowners on all things property related. It's run by a team of experienced property owners, investors, and a former estate agent.

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