What Paperwork Do I Need to Sell My House in Central London?

It’s not an activity undertaken on a regular basis, so we expect questions from sellers of homes in Baker Street, Regent’s Park, Soho and across central London. One of the most common is ‘what paperwork do I need to sell my house?’ 

Sellers will need to provide a plethora of legally required documents. Some will be sourced by a solicitor, while others should be provided or completed by the seller themselves. Failure to do this in a timely fashion can delay a sale. As such, it’s sensible to know what paperwork for selling a house is required before you come to market. 

Use our complete checklist for central London sellers to get organised.  

Is There a Lot of Paperwork When Selling a House?  

It can feel overwhelming when you see a list of the paperwork required to sell your home but there’s good news. You won’t need to dig around in dusty vaults or libraries. 

Most paperwork is now digital, easily accessible or obtainable after making a simple enquiry. Your solicitor can obtain more complex documents, such as title deeds. Sellers of leasehold properties in Central London will have another layer of leasehold information they’ll need to provide. 

When Should Home Sellers Have Their Paperwork Ready?  

We’re currently shifting to a more ‘upfront information’ way of selling properties, which aims to cut delays. Some sellers are voluntarily gathering paper trails and documents ahead of a solicitor requesting them, which is sensible. In tandem, solicitors are routinely asking for information earlier in the conveyancing process. 

Preparing paperwork ahead of your property being listed for sale will limit administrative delays but as a minimum, aim to gather documents before you accept an offer. 

What Paperwork Do I Need To Sell My House? 

The required paperwork for selling a house falls into two camps: essential and potential. These comprise: 

Essential Paperwork for Selling Your House  

• Proof of identity: your estate agent, solicitor and mortgage lender will carry out anti-money laundering checks when you sell your home. This means proving who you really are by showing photo ID, usually a passport or driving licence, together with a recent utility bill or bank statement. 

• Title deeds: this document proves who owns the property and is legally required when you sell. Registering a change of property ownership with HM Land Registry became compulsory in 1990. You, a past solicitor or a mortgage lender may have a copy of your deeds. If not, you can check if your property is registered and get a copy of your title deeds online here. If the property is not registered or the deed is lost, speak to your solicitor about a possessory title. 

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC): sellers have been legally required to provide a valid EPC when selling their home from 2007. This certificate shows potential buyers how energy efficient a home is. EPCs have a 10-year shelf life. Check if yours has expired and if so, ask Kubie Gold to book an energy assessor to create a new report. 

• Property Information Form (TA6): the property information form relates to the building itself. It will detail everything from planning permission, alterations, building regulation details, guarantees and warranties, to boundaries, rights and informal agreements, parking, Japanese Knotweed, tree preservation orders, listed status, conservation areas, solar power and environmental matters. Sellers can usually answer each question with Yes, No or Not Known, plus there are some free answer boxes. 

• Fittings and contents form (TA10): although not compulsory, potential buyers can rightly delay their purchase if the sellers doesn’t complete a fittings and contents form (TA10). This form lists the items inside the property and is legally binding once contracts are exchanged. Fittings (also known as fixtures) are usually permanent features that stay behind. Contents are usually taken with the seller or offered for sale by the vendor to the purchaser. The seller can answer Included, Excluded or None against each item listed. 

Documents You Potentially May Need When Selling a House  

• Leasehold information form (TA7): leasehold sales are more complex due to a freeholder, a lease and extra fees. These are covered in the leasehold information form (TA7). All sellers of leasehold properties after 20th March 2026 must fill out the 5th edition of the TA7. The seller must disclose how much they pay in management charges and ground rent, and provide management contact details, together with accounts. 

• Planning permission and building regulations certificates: these will be required if you have indicated on the TA6 form that your home has been subject to alterations, planning permissions or building control. You’ll need to prove that all work had permission, and was signed off as safe and satisfactorily completed.  

• FENSA or CERTASS: if you’ve had new windows or external doors installed at your property, you should have a FENSA or CERTASS certificate that proves the installation complied with building regulations. These are usually valid for 10 years. You can check whether you have a certificate and order a copy online.  

• Gas and electrical certificates: although neither are legally required when selling, they are increasingly requested by potential buyers. A Gas Safety certificate (CP12) confirms all appliances that run on gas are safe for operation. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is an approximate electrical equivalent and is valid for five years. A Part P Building Regulation Certificate is, however, required by law if you have extended or altered the wiring in your home since January 2005.  

• Guarantees and warranties: if you’ve had any new additions, servicing or work in your property, potential buyers will want evidence by way of guarantees and warranties. This could cover damp proofing, timber treatment, roofing, boiler servicing or the eradication of Japanese Knotweed. 

• Management pack: this will be supplied in conjunction with the TA7 form. It will detail leasehold service charges, ground rent, administration fees, management company accounts and major works planned. 

How Long Should I Keep Paperwork After Selling a House?  

The most important documents to retain are: TA6, TA10, TA7 forms, title deeds and the completion statement. General advice suggests these should be held for six years. Your solicitor can give specific advice on timeframes, as well as information for leasehold or shared ownership sales. EPCs, EICRS, warranties and guarantees should all state how long their cover lasts.  

Are There Any Other Documents Required or Helpful When Selling a House?  

Material Information asks sellers to disclose more information about their property before their home is listed for sale. Expect to provide documents that support: 

• Financial & Contractual information: including tenure, remaining lease length, ground rent, service charges and Council Tax band 

• Physical Characteristics & Utilities: including property type, construction and number of rooms, utilities, broadband availability and parking arrangements 

• Property-specific & Location risks: including flood or coastal erosion risks, building safety defects, restrictive covenants and planning permissions 

Both solicitors will also need a mortgage redemption statement, if you have an outstanding mortgage.  

There is plenty sellers can do to reduce delays, even before they appoint a solicitor. Getting utility bills, bank statements, photo ID, guarantees, warrantees and permissions together can all be done before booking a valuation with Kubie Gold. You can even obtain a copy of your title deeds quickly and cheaply online. 

The more involved forms, such as TA6, TA7 and TA10, will come from your solicitor but don’t worry. Ask our team and they can answer any questions you may have regarding paperwork. We’ll also support you when preparing Material Information. 

Let’s get your sale started – contact us if your property is in Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Camden, Maida Vale or anywhere else in Central London.