Legal & process
A Legal Checklist for Selling a House
The legal essentials for selling a house are: proof of identity, the title (or deeds), a valid EPC, the TA6 Property Information Form and TA10 Fittings & Contents Form, relevant certificates and guarantees (FENSA, building regs, gas/electrical), your mortgage redemption details, and — for leasehold — the management pack. Your conveyancer assembles the contract pack from these. Gathering them before you market the property is what keeps the legal stage fast and avoids delays.
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- TA6 + EPCcore documents
- Leaseholdpack takes weeks
- Preparebefore marketing
Proof of ownership and identity
You need to prove who you are and that you own the property. Your conveyancer will carry out ID and anti-money-laundering checks, and obtain official copies of the registered title from HM Land Registry (or the deeds for unregistered land) as proof of ownership. For most homes the register is the proof, so lost paper deeds rarely matter (see selling without the deeds).
The forms and the EPC
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| EPC | Energy rating — legally required to market |
| TA6 Property Information Form | Discloses the property’s details and any issues |
| TA10 Fittings & Contents Form | What is included in the sale |
| TA7 (leasehold) | Leasehold information, if applicable |
You complete the TA6 honestly — it is central to disclosure.
Certificates and guarantees
Gather the paperwork for any work done to the property:
- FENSA / building-regulations certificates for windows, extensions and major works (see FENSA)
- Gas and electrical certificates where you have them
- Guarantees for damp-proofing, roofing, a new boiler, timber treatment, or underpinning
- Planning permissions for any alterations
Missing certificates can be addressed with regularisation or indemnity insurance, but having them ready avoids delay.
Mortgage and leasehold details
You will need your mortgage redemption figure (so the conveyancer can repay the loan on completion), and, if the property is leasehold, the management pack (LPE1) from the freeholder or managing agent, your lease, and service-charge and ground-rent details. The management pack takes weeks to obtain and is a common cause of leasehold delays, so order it as soon as you decide to sell.
Why preparing early matters
The single biggest cause of a slow legal stage is hunting for documents after a sale is agreed. Assembling this checklist before you market means your conveyancer can move straight to preparing the contract pack and answering enquiries, compressing the timeline. It is exactly what enables a fast sale (see quick-sale checklist). For a guaranteed quick completion, a cash buyer with no mortgage or chain can complete in 7-28 days once the paperwork is ready.
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Written & reviewed by Lisa Hayes, Founder
Lisa Hayes is the founder of Ready Steady Sell and an independent UK home-selling expert with over a decade helping homeowners weigh cash house buyers, property investors and the wider fast house-sale industry — without pressure or hidden fees. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy under our editorial standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, no sales talk
What legal documents do I need to sell a house?
Proof of ID, the title or deeds, a valid EPC, the TA6 and TA10 forms, relevant certificates and guarantees (FENSA, building regs, gas/electrical), your mortgage redemption details, and a leasehold management pack if applicable.
What is the TA6 form?
The Property Information Form, completed by the seller, disclosing the property’s details and any issues such as disputes, alterations and defects. You must answer it honestly.
Do I need an EPC to sell my house?
Yes — a valid Energy Performance Certificate is legally required to market a home, and it lasts 10 years.
What certificates do I need for past work?
FENSA or building-regulations certificates for windows, extensions and major works, plus any guarantees (damp, roofing, boiler) and planning permissions for alterations.
What do I need for a leasehold sale?
The management pack (LPE1) from the freeholder or managing agent, the lease, and service-charge and ground-rent details. Order the pack early, as it takes weeks.
Why prepare the legal paperwork early?
Hunting for documents after a sale is agreed is the biggest cause of legal delays. Gathering them before marketing lets the conveyancer move straight to the contract pack.