How to get your paperwork in order before selling your home
15th March 2023 by John Munro
If you are planning on selling your home, getting all of your paperwork in order upfront can help you avoid delays later on. We take a look at what you will need.
When selling your home, your solicitor will need to provide a wide range of documents to the buyer’s solicitor. Many of these can be put together in readiness before you accept an offer.
Identity documentation
Your estate agent and your solicitor are required by law to verify your identity. You will need to provide them with a photo identity document, either your passport or driving licence, as well as proof of your address, which could be your driving licence, a bank statement or a copy of a recent utility bill. If you are also buying a property and you will be obtaining a mortgage, your mortgage lender will also need to see your identity documentation.
We will usually also carry out an online check on your identity.
An Energy Performance Certificate
It is a legal requirement that you provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). These last for ten years, so there may already be one in existence for your home and you can check this on the government’s online database. If there is no EPC in place, you can ask an accredited energy assessor to inspect your property and provide a certificate ready for your sale.
Title deeds
Many titles are now held electronically on the Land Registry’s database. You may have copies however, and these can be passed to your solicitor so that they can order up to date certified copies from the Land Registry.
Leasehold information
If your property is leasehold, you will need to provide a range of information in respect of this, including a copy of the lease and a completed leasehold information form, which your solicitor can let you have. A substantial amount of paperwork needs to accompany the form, including details of the freeholder, management company details, copies of management company accounts, details of how much is held in a sinking fund for future repairs, the freeholder’s consent to any alterations and a copy of the buildings insurance.
Copies of planning consents and building regulations approval for any alterations
If alterations have been carried out at the property, the buyer’s solicitor will ask to see a copy of the planning permission and evidence that the work has been signed off by building inspectors to confirm that it complies with building regulations.
You will also need to provide a copy of any planning permissions referred to in the local search. These may be held with your title deeds as your solicitor will have requested copies at the time you purchased the property.
Newbuild guarantee
If your home is less than ten years old, then it is likely to have a newbuild warranty such as a National House Building Council (NHBC) warranty or similar cover provided by another insurer.
Other guarantees
You should provide copies of any other guarantees you hold, for example, in respect of new windows, damp proofing or a boiler guarantee.
If the electrical wiring has been extended or altered since January 2005, you will be required to provide a Part P Building Regulation Certificate which should have been provided by the electrician.
Property information and fixtures and fittings forms
Your solicitor will be able to let you have property information and fixtures and fittings forms to fill in ready for your buyer. This covers a range of information in respect of your home and lists the fixtures and fittings that you will be leaving. You can offer items for sale via the fixtures and fittings form if you wish.
Contact us
If you are thinking of selling your home or any other queries relating to buying or selling a property, please contact Kelly Howe on k.howe@laceyssolicitors.co.uk or 01202 377800.
John Munro
Partner — Commercial and Residential Property
Direct dial: 01202 377839
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“John Munro was friendly and very approachable, advising me with a clear depth of knowledge and experience. I have since recommended him and will do so if asked in the future.”
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“Having dealt with Laceys on many a sale and purchase I’ve always found them to be efficient, knowledgeable and attentive. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them to family, friends and clients.”
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“We have always been very happy with the service provided by Laceys Solicitors, in both our business legal requirements and domestic property conveyancing.”
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“You are our solicitor Superhero! Very grateful. ”
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“Changing solicitors is not to be undertaken lightly. However really impressed with the way that John Munro and his associates have dealt with us over the last couple of years in a variety of complex property related transactions and on the commercial and personal front as well. We look forward to working with them going forward.”
John joined Laceys in 2001 on a training contract, having completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Law in 2000, and qualified as a solicitor in 2003. He is now the Head of the Commercial and Residential Property Departments.
He is also the firm’s Senior Responsible Officer under the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) with overall responsibility for the management of the property team and their delivery of the excellent service that our clients have come to expect.
John acts in his own capacity for a number of commercial property owners, developers and investors, but also allocates time to ensure his team are up to speed with changing law and professional regulations and clients are provided with members of the team who possess the right skills to deal with their individual requirements, delivering projects in the most time and cost-efficient manner.
Outside of work John seems to spend a great deal of time ferrying his children around but occasionally gets to put his feet up and listen to his eclectic collection of vinyl. He is also not averse to a good cheeseboard and a glass of IPA.
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