The TA6 property information form, explained for sellers
By Laura at Domovita If you are selling a home in England or Wales, one of the first documents your conveyancer will ask you to complete is the TA6 Property Information Form. It looks like a long questionnaire, and it is - but it is also one of the most important documents you will sign in the whole sale, because the answers you give become part of the legal record the buyer relies on. This guide explains what the TA6 is, what it covers, and how to complete it honestly, whether you are selling the property yourself or working with a local estate agent. Last reviewed: 10 June 2026. What is the TA6? The TA6 is the Property Information Form produced by the Law Society. It is completed by the seller and used in the conveyancing process - the legal side of transferring ownership from you to your buyer. In practice, your conveyancer or solicitor sends it to you near the start of the sale, you fill it in, and they pass it (with the supporting paperwork) to the buyer's legal team as part of the contract pack. The current version is the 6th edition, which became mandatory for firms accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) for new instructions from 30 March 2026, alongside the TA7 leasehold information form (5th edition). It is a deliberately streamlined form - slimmed down to 15 sections after feedback from conveyancers on the longer 5th edition. If your conveyancer is CQS-accredited, you can expect to be asked to complete this newer edition. You can read more about the scheme and a solicitor's role in a sale on the Law Society website and find a general overview of the selling process on gov.uk. Why the TA6 matters The TA6 is where you formally disclose what you know about your property. The buyer, their conveyancer, their surveyor and often their mortgage lender all rely on your answers when deciding whether to proceed and on what terms. Get it right and the sale runs smoothly. Get it wrong - even by accident - and you can create real problems. Crucially, the form is not just a courtesy. Answer every question truthfully and completely. A false or misleading answer can unravel a sale and create liability for you, even after completion. A buyer who later discovers a problem you knew about, but did not disclose, may be able to claim against you. That is why "I was not sure, so I left it blank" or "I rounded the truth to make it look better" are both risky approaches. What the TA6 covers The form runs through the practical history and condition of the property. While the exact questions can change between editions, it typically asks about matters such as: Boundaries, and who is responsible for the fences, walls and hedges around the property Disputes and complaints involving the property or neighbours Notices and proposals you have received (for example about nearby development) Alterations, building work, planning permissions and building regulations consents Guarantees and warranties (for example on damp-proofing, a new boiler or windows) Services such as drainage, water, gas and electricity, and how the property is connected Rights and informal arrangements affecting the property, such as shared access The TA6 is usually accompanied by the TA10 Fittings and Contents Form, which sets out exactly what is included in the sale and what you are taking with you - from light fittings and curtains to the garden shed. Completing the TA10 carefully prevents arguments on moving day about what was supposed to stay. Material information and the TA6 You may have heard of material information - the things a reasonable buyer would need to know to make an informed decision - and the three-part framework often described as Part A, Part B and Part C. The original detailed guidance for this was published by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) and was withdrawn in May 2025, with enforcement passing to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Industry practice still follows the framework on listings. In broad terms: Part A - basics every listing should carry, such as price and council tax band Part B - information that should be established for every property, such as the type of property and how it is connected to utilities Part C - information that may or may not apply, but matters when it does. Part C covers issues such as Japanese knotweed and flood risk This is not a niche compliance point. Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the DMCC Act), omitting material information is treated as an automatic unfair commercial practice, and the CMA can impose penalties. You can read about the CMA's role on the Competition and Markets Authority page. In plain terms: leaving out something material is not a grey area - the law treats the omission itself as the problem. One thing to be clear about: the material-information duty attaches to how the property is marketed - the listing itself - not to the TA6. In fact the form has moved the other way. The 5th edition (March 2024) added material-information questions; after feedback from conveyancers and the withdrawal of the NTSELAT guidance, the Law Society pared the form back, and the current 6th edition removed categories such as council tax and building safety. A separate optional material-information form was announced but has not been issued. So the listing-level disclosure is your (or your agent's) job, while the TA6 remains where you give the buyer's solicitor an honest account of the property's history and condition - which is why it still deserves real care rather than a quick tick-box pass. For the listing-side duty in full, see our guide to material information when selling. How to complete the TA6 honestly The golden rule is simple: tell the truth, and disclose what you know. Here is how to approach it in practice. Set aside proper time. Do not rush it on the kitchen table the night before it is due. Gather your paperwork first - guarantees, planning and building-regulations documents, warranties, service records and any correspondence about disputes or notices. Answer from what you actually know. If you genuinely do not know the answer, say so honestly rather than guessing. There is usually a "not known" option, and using it truthfully is far safer than inventing a confident answer that turns out to be wrong. Disclose, do not minimise. If there has been a boundary disagreement, a flood, a leak, knotweed treatment or a dispute with a neighbour, disclose it. Hiding a known issue is exactly the kind of thing that can unravel a sale and lead to a claim later. Keep your evidence. Attach or keep copies of the guarantees, certificates and consents you refer to. Buyers' conveyancers will often ask for them, and having them ready speeds the sale up. Tell your conveyancer if anything changes. If circumstances change between completing the form and finishing the sale - for example a new notice arrives - let your conveyancer know so the information can be updated. If you are unsure how a particular question applies to your property, ask your conveyancer before you commit an answer. That is part of what they are there for, and an early question is far cheaper than a later dispute. A note on related documents The TA6 does not stand alone. Alongside the TA10 Fittings and Contents Form, you will also need a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when marketing your home - you can check yours or arrange one via gov.uk's find an energy certificate service. If you are selling a leasehold property, your conveyancer will also ask you to complete the TA7 leasehold information form (currently the 5th edition). There may also be tax to consider once the sale completes. Selling your only or main home is often covered by relief, but second homes and buy-to-lets can be a different story. For the current rules and figures, check gov.uk's guidance on tax when you sell your home and Capital Gains Tax, or speak to HMRC or a qualified tax adviser. We have not quoted specific thresholds or rates here on purpose - they change, so always check the current figure on gov.uk. The bottom line The TA6 can feel daunting, but its job is straightforward: to give your buyer an honest, complete picture of the home they are buying. Treat it as a genuine disclosure exercise rather than a form to get past, answer everything truthfully, keep your supporting documents to hand, and lean on your conveyancer when you are unsure. Do that, and you protect both your buyer and yourself - and you give your sale the best chance of completing without nasty surprises. Whether you list your property yourself on Domovita or bring in a local agent to handle the marketing for you, the legal disclosure on the TA6 is yours to complete honestly. Frequently asked questions Who fills in the TA6 form, the seller or the estate agent? The TA6 is completed by the seller, not the agent. Your conveyancer or solicitor will send it to you near the start of the sale and pass your completed answers to the buyer's legal team. Whether you are selling the property yourself or using a local estate agent, the responsibility for answering the questions truthfully sits with you as the owner. What happens if I make a mistake or leave something off the TA6? Answer every question truthfully and completely, because a false or misleading answer can unravel a sale and create liability for you, even after completion. If a buyer later discovers a known problem you did not disclose, they may be able to bring a claim against you. If you genuinely do not know an answer, say so honestly rather than guessing, and ask your conveyancer if you are unsure how a question applies. What is the difference between the TA6 and the TA10? The TA6 is the Property Information Form covering the history and condition of the property, while the TA10 is the Fittings and Contents Form covering what is included in the sale and what you are taking with you. They are usually completed together. The TA10 helps avoid disputes on moving day about items such as light fittings, curtains or garden equipment. Which edition of the TA6 will I be asked to complete? The current version is the 6th edition, mandatory for firms accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) for new instructions from 30 March 2026, alongside the TA7 (5th edition) for leasehold sales. It is a streamlined form compared with the previous edition. If you are unsure which version applies to your sale, ask your conveyancer directly. How does the TA6 relate to the material-information disclosure duty? They are related but separate. The material-information duty under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 attaches to how the property is marketed - omitting material information from a listing is treated as an automatic unfair commercial practice, enforced by the Competition and Markets Authority. The TA6 itself was pared back in its 6th edition, with categories such as council tax and building safety removed, so meeting the duty on your listing is down to you or your agent. The TA6 is where you give the buyer's solicitor an honest account of the property's history, and both need to be truthful and complete. Do I have to disclose past problems like flooding or a neighbour dispute? Yes - if you know about an issue such as a flood, a leak, Japanese knotweed treatment or a dispute with a neighbour, you should disclose it on the form. Hiding a known problem is exactly the kind of thing that can unravel a sale and lead to a claim later. Keep any related paperwork, such as treatment guarantees or correspondence, as the buyer's conveyancer will often ask to see it. Related guides Material information: what you must disclose when selling How to sell your home privately: a step-by-step guide A Seller's Guide to Listing Your Home in the UK List your home on Domovita - free for private sellers General information, not legal advice. This guide explains the rules in plain English and is kept under review, but the law changes and every situation is different. 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Material information: what you must disclose when selling (DMCC Act 2024)
By Laura at Domovita Last reviewed: 10 June 2026. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Where a specific figure, threshold or deadline matters to your sale, check the current gov.uk guidance and take advice from your conveyancer. What "material information" means Material information is any fact a reasonable buyer would need to make an informed decision about a property - whether to enquire, whether to view, and what to offer. The duty applies to anyone marketing a home for sale to consumers. It is the same standard whether a high-street agent lists the property or you list it privately. It is not about volunteering every detail of your life in the house - it is about the facts that materially affect value, cost of ownership, or the decision to buy. What changed: the DMCC Act 2024 The legal framing changed materially on 6 April 2025, when the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 came into force and repealed the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (the "CPRs"). Under the older regime, an omission generally had to be shown to have misled the consumer. Under the DMCC, omitting material information is automatically an unfair commercial practice - there is no separate need to prove the buyer was actually misled. Enforcement sits with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Penalties under the new regime can reach up to £300,000, or 10% of global turnover for a business, and individuals can face serious consequences for the most serious breaches. The exact penalty position and any sector-specific guidance can move, so check the current CMA guidance rather than relying on a fixed figure. The practical takeaway for a seller is simple: disclose early and disclose in writing. Putting the key facts in the listing itself protects you, speeds the sale, and reduces the risk of a buyer pulling out late when something surfaces in conveyancing. The Part A, B and C framework The property industry has worked to a three-part framework for material information for several years. The original detailed guidance was issued by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT); that guidance was withdrawn in May 2025 when enforcement passed to the CMA. In practice the same A/B/C structure continues to be used across the industry, and it remains a sensible checklist for any listing. (Note that the conveyancing form your solicitor uses has since moved the other way - see TA6 below.) Part A - always required, on every listing Three things must appear on every property advert, for every home, regardless of type or location: Asking price - the price the property is marketed at. Council tax band - the band (in England, Scotland and Wales), or the equivalent rating in Northern Ireland. You can look this up via gov.uk council tax bands. Tenure - whether the property is freehold or leasehold (or commonhold, or shared ownership). If it is leasehold, the detail matters: the number of years left on the lease, the ground rent, and the service charge. Leasehold buyers need these to assess the true cost of ownership. Part B - required on every listing since late 2023 This second tier has been expected on listings since the framework was extended in November 2023. It covers the practical facts about how the property is built and serviced: Property type - detached, semi-detached, terraced, flat, bungalow and so on. Construction materials - the main materials the property is built from, which matters for mortgageability and insurance (for example non-standard construction). Number and types of rooms - bedrooms, bathrooms, reception rooms. Utilities - electricity supply, water supply and drainage (mains or otherwise), heating type and fuel, and sewerage arrangements. Broadband and mobile signal - the type and speed of broadband available, and mobile coverage. Ofcom data is the usual source; the Ofcom coverage checker covers both. Parking - the parking arrangements (allocated, garage, on-street, permit). Part C - required where it applies to your property The third tier only applies where the relevant issue exists, but where it does, it must be disclosed. These are the facts most likely to affect a buyer's decision or value, and the ones most often left out. Part C includes: Building safety - cladding, asbestos, and any matters falling under the Building Safety Act, particularly relevant for flats. Restrictions - whether the property is a listed building, in a conservation area, or has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). Rights and easements - rights of way over the land, shared access, or rights others hold over the property. Flood risk and flood history - whether the property has flooded or sits in a flood risk area. You can check the long-term flood risk for an area in England on gov.uk (separate services cover Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Planning permission - relevant planning matters, proposals affecting the property, or development nearby. Accessibility and adaptations - step-free access, wet rooms, stairlifts and similar. Coalfield or mining - whether the property is in a former mining area. A coal mining report (from the Mining Remediation Authority, formerly the Coal Authority) is the usual check. Other known issues - for example the presence of Japanese knotweed, which a buyer's lender will want addressed. TA6: where the conveyancing form now stands Alongside the listing, a seller completes the TA6 Property Information Form, the standard form a conveyancer asks for. Its relationship with material information has shifted. The 5th edition (March 2024) added material-information questions; after feedback from conveyancers and the withdrawal of the NTSELAT guidance, the Law Society pared the form back. The current 6th edition - mandatory for firms accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme for new instructions from 30 March 2026 - is a streamlined form, and categories such as council tax and building safety were removed from it. A separate optional material-information form was announced but has not been issued. The practical consequence for a seller is important: the TA6 still gives your buyer's solicitor an honest account of the property's history and condition, but it will not gather your listing's material information for you. The Part A, B and C facts on the advert are your responsibility (or your agent's). Your conveyancer will provide the current version of the form. How this fits a private sale None of this is specific to selling through an agent. The disclosure duty attaches to the marketing of the property, so it applies equally to a homeowner who lists their own home. If anything, gathering the material information yourself is straightforward: you live there, and the Part A, B and C checklist above walks you through it. Getting it onto the listing from day one means buyers self-select, viewings are better qualified, and the sale is less likely to fall through when a fact emerges later. Related obligations to have ready Material information sits alongside a few other things a seller needs in place: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - a valid EPC must be available before you market the property. An EPC is valid for 10 years. If you do not have a current one, an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor can produce it. See gov.uk on EPCs when selling. Conveyancing and AML checks - your conveyancer handles the legal transfer and, as a regulated firm, must carry out anti-money-laundering and source-of-funds checks. Capital Gains Tax - usually not due on your main home, but it can apply to second homes and buy-to-lets, with a tighter reporting deadline. Check the current position on gov.uk Capital Gains Tax. The short version Put Part A on every listing without exception. Add Part B as a matter of course. Work through Part C honestly and disclose anything that applies. Complete your TA6 early. Where you are unsure of a specific number, date or threshold, link to or follow the current gov.uk guidance rather than guess - and let your conveyancer confirm the detail. Disclosing fully and early is both the legal expectation and the fastest route to a sale that completes. Frequently asked questions Do I have to disclose material information if I sell my house privately? Yes. The duty attaches to marketing the property to buyers, not to using an agent. A homeowner listing their own home must disclose the same material information as an agent would - Part A facts on every listing, plus Part B and any Part C issues that apply. The Part A, B and C checklist in this guide helps you gather it all in one place. What is the difference between Part A, B and C material information? Part A must appear on every listing: asking price, council tax band, and tenure (with leasehold detail). Part B covers practical facts on every listing - property type, construction, rooms, utilities, broadband and mobile, and parking. Part C applies only where relevant, covering issues like flood risk, listed status, rights of way, building safety and mining. What happens if I leave out material information? Since the DMCC Act 2024 came into force on 6 April 2025, omitting material information is automatically an unfair commercial practice, with no separate need to prove a buyer was misled. The Competition and Markets Authority enforces it and penalties can be significant. A practical risk is also a sale collapsing late when the omission surfaces in conveyancing. Check current CMA guidance for the penalty position. Is the council tax band really required on the listing? Yes. Council tax band is one of the three Part A items that must appear on every property advert, alongside the asking price and the tenure. You can look up the band for a property free on gov.uk. For leasehold homes, the tenure detail also needs the lease length, ground rent and service charge. What is the TA6 6th edition? TA6 is the standard Property Information Form a seller completes for their conveyancer. The current 6th edition became mandatory for firms accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme for new instructions from 30 March 2026. It is a streamlined form - material-information categories such as council tax and building safety were removed from it - so the material information on your listing is your or your agent's responsibility, not the form's. Your conveyancer supplies the current version. Did the DMCC Act replace the old consumer protection rules? Yes. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 came into force on 6 April 2025 and repealed the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The earlier rules generally required showing a buyer was misled. Under the DMCC, omitting material information is itself an unfair commercial practice, which raises the bar for sellers and agents to disclose fully and in writing. Related guides The TA6 property information form, explained for sellers How to sell your home privately: a step-by-step guide A Seller's Guide to Listing Your Home in the UK List your home on Domovita - free for private sellers General information, not legal advice. This guide explains the rules in plain English and is kept under review, but the law changes and every situation is different. Always check the current position on the official gov.uk pages linked above, and take professional advice - a solicitor, or your local council for licensing questions - before relying on it for a specific decision. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Material information: what you must disclose when selling (DMCC Act 2024)", "description": "What counts as material information when selling a UK home, under the DMCC Act 2024. 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The duty attaches to marketing the property to buyers, not to using an agent. A homeowner listing their own home must disclose the same material information as an agent would - Part A facts on every listing, plus Part B and any Part C issues that apply. The Part A, B and C checklist in this guide helps you gather it all in one place." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the difference between Part A, B and C material information?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Part A must appear on every listing: asking price, council tax band, and tenure (with leasehold detail). Part B covers practical facts on every listing - property type, construction, rooms, utilities, broadband and mobile, and parking. Part C applies only where relevant, covering issues like flood risk, listed status, rights of way, building safety and mining." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What happens if I leave out material information?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Since the DMCC Act 2024 came into force on 6 April 2025, omitting material information is automatically an unfair commercial practice, with no separate need to prove a buyer was misled. The Competition and Markets Authority enforces it and penalties can be significant. A practical risk is also a sale collapsing late when the omission surfaces in conveyancing. Check current CMA guidance for the penalty position." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the council tax band really required on the listing?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Council tax band is one of the three Part A items that must appear on every property advert, alongside the asking price and the tenure. You can look up the band for a property free on gov.uk. For leasehold homes, the tenure detail also needs the lease length, ground rent and service charge." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the TA6 6th edition?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "TA6 is the standard Property Information Form a seller completes for their conveyancer. The current 6th edition became mandatory for firms accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme for new instructions from 30 March 2026. It is a streamlined form - material-information categories such as council tax and building safety were removed from it - so the material information on your listing is your or your agent's responsibility, not the form's. Your conveyancer supplies the current version." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Did the DMCC Act replace the old consumer protection rules?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 came into force on 6 April 2025 and repealed the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The earlier rules generally required showing a buyer was misled. Under the DMCC, omitting material information is itself an unfair commercial practice, which raises the bar for sellers and agents to disclose fully and in writing." } } ] }
How to sell your home privately: a step-by-step guide
By Laura at Domovita Selling your home yourself is more achievable than many people expect, and you stay in control of the price, the timing and the conversations with buyers. This guide walks you through the ten steps in order, from deciding your asking price to handing over the keys, and points you to a detailed guide at each stage. If you would rather have a local agent handle some or all of it, that works too - on Domovita you can list the property yourself or bring in an agent, and both are first-class ways to sell. For the official starting point, see the government's overview of buying and selling your home. Last reviewed: 30 May 2026. The ten steps at a glance Decide your price Get an EPC (required before marketing) Gather your paperwork Write your listing Take good photos Handle enquiries and viewings Receive and review offers Instruct a conveyancer Move from offer to exchange Complete and hand over the keys Step 1 - Decide your price Your asking price is the single biggest decision you make, because it shapes how many buyers enquire and how quickly. Research what similar homes nearby have actually sold for, not just what they were listed at, and be honest about your home's condition and the local market. If you want a steer, you can ask a few local agents for a free valuation, or use Domovita's valuation tools, and then set a figure you are comfortable with. Pricing too high can leave a home sitting unsold; pricing sensibly tends to generate competing interest. It is also worth budgeting for the costs involved before you commit - our cost of selling guide breaks these down. Step 2 - Get an EPC (required before marketing) By law you must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) available before you market your home for sale. An EPC rates the property's energy efficiency and is produced by an accredited assessor after a short visit. You can check whether you already have a current one, or find an assessor, using the government's find an energy certificate service. Do not start advertising until the certificate is in place. For the full detail on timing, validity and what to expect, read our EPC when selling guide. Step 3 - Gather your paperwork Getting your documents together early avoids delays later. Typically you will need your title documents (proof you own the property), the TA6 property information form (the current sixth edition), the TA10 fittings and contents form, and any leasehold or warranty paperwork that applies to your home. The TA6 is where you set out a great deal of the detail buyers and their solicitors rely on, so it is worth completing carefully and honestly. Our guide to the TA6 property information form explains each section. If your property is leasehold, you may have additional management or service-charge paperwork to collect - gather what you can while you wait for offers. Step 4 - Write your listing A good listing is accurate, specific and easy to scan. Lead with the things buyers care about - the number of bedrooms, the type of property, the location and the standout features - and write in plain language. Crucially, you must disclose all material information under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the DMCC Act 2024) - see the government's guidance on the DMCC Act 2024, and our material information guide for what to disclose. Material information means the things that could affect a buyer's decision, such as tenure, council tax band, known issues and anything unusual about the property. Leaving out or misstating material information is a serious matter, so be straight about your home's good and not-so-good points. Our material information guide sets out what you should include. Step 5 - Take good photos Photographs do most of the persuading before anyone steps through the door. Declutter and clean first, open curtains and blinds for natural light, and shoot each main room from a corner to show its full size. Aim for a bright, level, true-to-life set of images covering every room, the garden or outside space, and the front of the property. Honest photos that match what visitors find on the day build trust and reduce wasted viewings - misleading images can stray into the material-information territory covered in Step 4. Step 6 - Handle enquiries and viewings Once your listing is live, be ready to respond to enquiries promptly and to arrange viewings at times that suit genuine buyers. Decide in advance whether you will show people round yourself, and think about straightforward personal safety steps such as letting someone know when a viewing is happening. Be ready to answer questions about the area, running costs and the points you disclosed in your listing. Our viewings and offers guide covers how to prepare, conduct viewings and follow up. For general guidance on the process, the government's buying and selling your home pages are a useful reference. Step 7 - Receive and review offers When offers come in, look at more than the headline figure. Consider the buyer's position - whether they are a cash buyer, have a mortgage agreed in principle, or are in a chain - because a slightly lower offer from a proceedable buyer can be more reliable than a higher one with conditions attached. You are free to negotiate, accept or decline. Remember that in England and Wales an accepted offer is not legally binding until exchange of contracts, so either side can still change their mind up to that point. Our viewings and offers guide explains how to weigh offers and respond. Step 8 - Instruct a conveyancer Once you have accepted an offer, instruct a conveyancer or solicitor to handle the legal side of the sale. They will prepare the contract, respond to the buyer's solicitor's enquiries, deal with your title and any leasehold matters, and manage the money. Selling privately does not mean doing the legal work yourself - the conveyancing is specialist work and almost everyone uses a professional. Our conveyancing for private sellers guide explains how to choose one, what they do and how the process flows. Step 9 - Move from offer to exchange This is the stage where the sale becomes real. The buyer's solicitor raises enquiries (many drawn from your TA6), the buyer arranges any survey and finalises their mortgage, and searches are carried out. Your conveyancer will guide you through responding and agreeing a completion date with the buyer's side. When both parties are ready, contracts are exchanged - and at that point the sale becomes legally binding on both of you. Keep communication open and answer enquiries quickly, as delays here are the most common cause of a slow sale. Step 10 - Complete and hand over the keys Completion is the day the money changes hands and ownership transfers to the buyer. Your conveyancer receives the funds, settles any outstanding mortgage on the property, and confirms when you need to be out. You then hand over the keys, usually by leaving them with an agent if one is involved or arranging a direct handover. Leave the property clean and remove everything you did not agree to leave behind in the TA10. After completion there may be tax to consider - if the property was not your only or main home, capital gains tax can apply, so check the current rules at tax when you sell your home and capital gains tax, and confirm any current figures or thresholds with HMRC. A note on doing it your way Selling privately puts you in charge, but you do not have to do everything alone. You can take on the whole process yourself, or hand parts of it to a local agent and keep the rest - listing on Domovita supports both. Whichever route you choose, the legal duties are the same: have a valid EPC before you market, disclose all material information, and use a conveyancer for the legal work. Get those right and the rest is mostly preparation, good communication and patience. Frequently asked questions Do I legally need an EPC before I can advertise my home? Yes. You must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate available before you market your home for sale in England and Wales. You can check whether you have a current one, or find an accredited assessor, using the government's find an energy certificate service at https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate. Is an accepted offer legally binding? No. In England and Wales an accepted offer is not legally binding until exchange of contracts. Either the buyer or the seller can change their mind up to the point of exchange, which is why moving promptly through the legal stage matters. What is material information and why does it matter? Material information is anything that could affect a buyer's decision, such as tenure, known issues or unusual features. You must disclose it under the DMCC Act 2024. Leaving it out or misstating it is a serious matter, so be honest in both your listing and the TA6 form. See our material information guide for a full checklist. What paperwork do I need to sell privately? Typically your title documents, the TA6 property information form (current sixth edition), the TA10 fittings and contents form, and any leasehold or warranty paperwork that applies. Gathering these early helps avoid delays once you have accepted an offer. Can I do the legal work myself instead of paying a conveyancer? Conveyancing is specialist legal work and almost everyone uses a conveyancer or solicitor, even when selling privately. They prepare the contract, handle enquiries, deal with your title and manage the funds. Our conveyancing for private sellers guide explains how to choose one. Will I have to pay tax when I sell? If the property was your only or main home, you may not have to pay capital gains tax, but rules and reliefs vary. If it was a second home or a let property, tax can apply. Do not rely on a remembered figure - check the current rules at https://www.gov.uk/tax-sell-home and https://www.gov.uk/capital-gains-tax and confirm any thresholds with HMRC. General information, not legal advice. This guide explains the rules in plain English and is kept under review, but the law changes and every situation is different. 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You must disclose all material information under the DMCC Act 2024, so be straight about the property's good and weaker points." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 5, "name": "Take good photos", "text": "Declutter, clean and use natural light, shooting each room to show its full size. Honest photos that match what visitors find on the day build trust and cut wasted viewings." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 6, "name": "Handle enquiries and viewings", "text": "Respond to enquiries promptly and arrange viewings to suit genuine buyers, with sensible personal safety steps in mind. Be ready to answer questions about the area, costs and the details you disclosed." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 7, "name": "Receive and review offers", "text": "Look beyond the headline figure at the buyer's position and chain, since a proceedable buyer can be more reliable than a higher conditional offer. An accepted offer is not legally binding until exchange of contracts." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 8, "name": "Instruct a conveyancer", "text": "Appoint a conveyancer or solicitor to handle the legal side - the contract, enquiries, your title and the money. Conveyancing is specialist work and almost everyone uses a professional, even when selling privately." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 9, "name": "Move from offer to exchange", "text": "The buyer's solicitor raises enquiries and arranges searches, surveys and the mortgage, and a completion date is agreed. On exchange of contracts the sale becomes legally binding on both sides." }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": 10, "name": "Complete and hand over the keys", "text": "On completion the money changes hands, any mortgage is settled and ownership transfers to the buyer. 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Do you need an EPC to sell your house?
By Laura at Domovita If you are getting ready to put your home on the market, one of the first questions to settle is the Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC. The short answer is yes - you need a valid EPC in place before you start marketing your property for sale, and it must be made available to people thinking of buying. The good news is that it is usually quick, inexpensive and long-lasting, so for most sellers it is a one-off job near the start of the process. Last reviewed: 30 May 2026. What is an EPC? An Energy Performance Certificate rates how energy-efficient a property is, on a scale from A (most efficient) down to G (least efficient). It also gives an estimate of running costs and suggests improvements that could raise the rating. Buyers use it to get a feel for likely heating bills and how the home compares with others, so it is genuinely useful information rather than just a box to tick. You can find an existing certificate, check whether one is still valid, or order a new one on the official register at gov.uk: Find an energy certificate. It is worth checking here first - your home may already have a certificate from a previous sale or works. Do you legally need one to sell? Yes. You must have a valid EPC - or have commissioned one - before you market your property for sale, and it must be made available to prospective buyers. In practice that means arranging the EPC early, so it is ready when your listing goes live and when interested buyers start asking questions. Whether you are listing the property yourself or working with a local estate agent, the requirement is the same, and a good agent will normally help you organise the certificate as part of getting you to market. For the official overview of your duties when selling, see gov.uk: Buying and selling your home. How long does an EPC last? An EPC is valid for 10 years. If your property already has one that is still within that period, you can usually rely on it for your sale rather than paying for a new one - though it is sensible to look at the existing certificate first. If you have made energy improvements since it was issued (for example new insulation, double glazing or a more efficient boiler), a fresh assessment may give you a better rating to show buyers, but that is your choice, not a requirement, while the existing certificate remains valid. What does an EPC cost? An EPC typically costs around £60 to £120. The exact price depends on factors such as the size and type of property and where you are in the country, so it is worth getting more than one quote. You only need one valid certificate, so this is generally a modest, one-off cost in the context of selling a home. Who carries out the assessment? An EPC is carried out by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). The assessor visits the property, takes measurements and records details such as the type of walls, windows, heating and insulation, then produces the certificate and lodges it on the national register. The visit itself is usually fairly short and non-intrusive. When you order through the official route at gov.uk: Find an energy certificate, the certificate is recorded centrally so buyers and their advisers can verify it. How to get yours sorted - a simple order of play Check the register to see whether your home already has a valid EPC. If it does and it is still within its 10-year life, you can normally use it for your sale. If it has expired, or there is no certificate, arrange one with an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor before you start marketing. Keep the certificate to hand so it can be made available to prospective buyers and passed to your conveyancer. Are any properties exempt? Most homes being sold need an EPC, but a small number of property types can be exempt in certain circumstances - some listed buildings are an often-cited example, though it is not a blanket rule and depends on the specifics. Because exemptions are narrow and the detail matters, do not assume your property qualifies. Check the current exemptions and the up-to-date position on gov.uk and, if you are unsure, ask your conveyancer or solicitor before deciding to market without one. If you do believe an exemption applies, get it confirmed rather than relying on assumption. How the EPC fits into disclosure The EPC is part of giving buyers the material information they need to make an informed decision. Making the certificate available early - rather than at the last minute - is good practice and helps the sale run smoothly, because buyers and their advisers will want to see it. The rating and the running-cost estimates can prompt sensible questions, so being ready to talk about them is part of presenting your home well. An EPC sits alongside the other information you will share during a sale, and your conveyancer will fold it into the legal pack. If you want to understand the wider picture of what sellers should disclose and how the process works, start with gov.uk: Buying and selling your home. A note for landlords (and accidental landlords) There is sometimes confusion between the EPC rule for selling and the minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) that apply to landlords letting property. They are separate matters. For selling, the requirement is simply to have a valid EPC available to buyers. The minimum-rating rules that can restrict whether a property may be let are a rental issue, not a sale one. If you are letting rather than selling, or doing both, read our dedicated rental and landlord compliance guide for the current position, and check the latest detail on gov.uk as the rules in this area continue to evolve. The bottom line For nearly all sellers, the EPC is straightforward: check whether you already have a valid one, order a new one from an accredited assessor if not, and make sure it is available before you market the property. It is inexpensive, lasts a decade, and gives buyers useful, honest information about the home. Sorting it early is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your sale on track - whether you list with Domovita yourself or bring in a local agent to handle it for you. Frequently asked questions Do I really need an EPC before I put my house on the market? Yes. You must have a valid EPC, or have commissioned one, before you market your property for sale, and it must be made available to prospective buyers. The simplest approach is to arrange it early so it is ready when your listing goes live. You can check for an existing one or order a new certificate on the gov.uk energy certificate register. How long is an EPC valid for? An EPC is valid for 10 years. If your home already has one within that period, you can usually rely on it for your sale without paying for a new assessment. It is still worth checking the existing certificate first, especially if you have made energy improvements since it was issued. How much does an EPC cost? An EPC typically costs around £60 to £120. The price varies with the size and type of property and your location, so it is worth getting more than one quote. As you only need one valid certificate, this is generally a modest one-off cost when selling. Who is allowed to carry out an EPC? An EPC must be carried out by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). They visit the property, record its energy features and lodge the certificate on the national register. Ordering through the official route at gov.uk means the certificate is recorded centrally so buyers can verify it. Are any properties exempt from needing an EPC to sell? A small number of property types can be exempt in certain circumstances - some listed buildings are an often-cited example - but it is not a blanket rule and depends on the specifics. Do not assume your property qualifies. Check the current exemptions on gov.uk and confirm with your conveyancer or solicitor before deciding to market without one. Is the EPC rule for selling the same as the rules landlords have to follow? No, they are separate. For selling, the requirement is simply to have a valid EPC available to prospective buyers. The minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) that can restrict whether a property may be let are a rental matter, so if you are letting rather than selling, check our landlord guide and the latest gov.uk guidance for that position. Related guides How to sell your home privately: a step-by-step guide What it costs to sell a home in the UK A Seller's Guide to Listing Your Home in the UK List your home on Domovita - free for private sellers General information, not legal advice. This guide explains the rules in plain English and is kept under review, but the law changes and every situation is different. Always check the current position on the official gov.uk pages linked above, and take professional advice - a solicitor, conveyancer, accountant, or your local council as appropriate - before relying on it for a specific decision. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Do you need an EPC to sell your house?", "description": "Selling your home? 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You must have a valid EPC, or have commissioned one, before you market your property for sale, and it must be made available to prospective buyers. The simplest approach is to arrange it early so it is ready when your listing goes live. You can check for an existing one or order a new certificate on the gov.uk energy certificate register." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long is an EPC valid for?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "An EPC is valid for 10 years. If your home already has one within that period, you can usually rely on it for your sale without paying for a new assessment. It is still worth checking the existing certificate first, especially if you have made energy improvements since it was issued." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does an EPC cost?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "An EPC typically costs around £60 to £120. The price varies with the size and type of property and your location, so it is worth getting more than one quote. As you only need one valid certificate, this is generally a modest one-off cost when selling." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who is allowed to carry out an EPC?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "An EPC must be carried out by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). They visit the property, record its energy features and lodge the certificate on the national register. Ordering through the official route at gov.uk means the certificate is recorded centrally so buyers can verify it." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are any properties exempt from needing an EPC to sell?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A small number of property types can be exempt in certain circumstances - some listed buildings are an often-cited example - but it is not a blanket rule and depends on the specifics. Do not assume your property qualifies. Check the current exemptions on gov.uk and confirm with your conveyancer or solicitor before deciding to market without one." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the EPC rule for selling the same as the rules landlords have to follow?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No, they are separate. For selling, the requirement is simply to have a valid EPC available to prospective buyers. The minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) that can restrict whether a property may be let are a rental matter, so if you are letting rather than selling, check our landlord guide and the latest gov.uk guidance for that position." } } ] }
Handling your own viewings and offers when selling privately
By Laura at Domovita Selling your home yourself can be straightforward and rewarding, and there is no legal requirement to use an estate agent to sell a property in the UK - you are perfectly entitled to conduct your own viewings and handle offers directly. On Domovita you can list and run the whole process yourself, or bring in a local agent at any point if you would rather hand part of it over; both routes are fully supported. This guide walks you through preparing for viewings, staying safe, qualifying buyers, and receiving, comparing and responding to offers, along with the honesty duties you owe to anyone enquiring. Last reviewed: 30 May 2026. Preparing for viewings A viewing is part show-and-tell, part fact-finding session for the buyer. Good preparation makes the property feel cared-for and makes your job easier. Before anyone walks through the door, give the home a thorough tidy and clean, deal with obvious small repairs, and make sure every room is well lit. Open curtains and blinds, and consider how the place looks at the time of day your viewings are booked. It helps to have your paperwork ready, because buyers and their solicitors will ask for it sooner or later. Keep your Energy Performance Certificate to hand - you can find or order one through the official register at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate - along with any warranties, guarantees, building-regulations or planning paperwork, and details of service charges or ground rent if the property is leasehold. Having these organised early helps a sale progress smoothly once an offer is agreed. For a general overview of the selling process, the official guidance at gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home is a good starting point. Planning the route Decide in advance how you will walk people through the property, usually starting with the strongest rooms. Plan what you want to point out - recent improvements, storage, natural light, the garden - and be honest about the things buyers will spot anyway. Trying to gloss over a known issue tends to backfire and, as explained below, can also create real liability. Staying safe during viewings The following are sensible precautions rather than legal rules, but they are well worth following. As a private seller you are inviting strangers into your home, so a little caution goes a long way. Verify who is coming. Take a name, a phone number and ideally an email address when booking, and confirm the appointment with a quick call or message beforehand. Try not to view alone. Where you can, arrange for a friend, partner or family member to be in the house during viewings. Let someone know. Tell another person when a viewing is happening and roughly how long you expect it to take. Keep valuables out of sight. Put away cash, jewellery, keys, post with personal details, and small electronics before anyone arrives. Stay between the visitor and the exit as you move through the property, and keep your phone on you. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, you are under no obligation to continue - politely end the viewing. Qualifying your buyers Qualifying simply means understanding how serious and how ready a buyer is, so you can compare offers sensibly later. There is nothing pushy about asking - it is normal practice. Helpful questions include: What is their position? Are they a first-time buyer, do they have a property to sell, or are they chain-free? How are they funding the purchase? Cash, or a mortgage? If a mortgage, do they have an agreement or decision in principle from a lender? What is their timescale? Do they need to move quickly, or are they flexible? Have they viewed much? A buyer who has done their homework is often closer to committing. You can ask for evidence of funding and proof of identity before you progress an offer, and most serious buyers will expect to provide it. Separately, conveyancers carry out their own anti-money-laundering and identity checks once a sale is under way, so the formal verification does not rest on you alone. Receiving and comparing offers Offers may come by phone, email or message. Whatever the format, write down the key details each time so you have a clear record: the buyer's name, the amount offered, their position and funding, their timescale, and any conditions (for example, that they need to sell their own home first, or that the offer depends on a survey). It is also good practice to confirm each offer back to the buyer in writing. When you compare offers, the highest number is not automatically the best one. A slightly lower offer from a chain-free cash buyer who can move quickly may be far more attractive than a higher offer that depends on a long chain. Weigh up: FactorWhy it matters Price offeredThe headline figure, but only one part of the picture. FundingCash, or mortgage with a decision in principle, tends to be more reliable. ChainChain-free buyers carry less risk of the deal collapsing. TimescaleDoes it match when you need to move? ConditionsOffers tied to selling another property or to survey results carry more uncertainty. Responding to offers You are not legally obliged to accept any particular offer, so take your time and respond in a way that suits you. You can accept, decline, or make a counter-offer - for instance, suggesting a figure between your asking price and their bid, or accepting on the condition that they provide proof of funds first. Keep your replies polite and clear, and confirm whatever you agree in writing. One point is essential to understand. In England and Wales, accepting an offer is not legally binding until contracts are exchanged. Until that point, either side can change their mind or walk away - the buyer can lower their offer (often called "gazundering") and you, as the seller, can accept a better offer from someone else (often called "gazumping"). This is not a loophole, it is simply how the process works in England and Wales; the rules differ in Scotland. Because of this, momentum matters: once you accept, move promptly to instruct a conveyancer and keep the sale progressing. For the standard steps from accepted offer to completion, see gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home. Your honesty duties when you answer questions This is the part private sellers most often underestimate. When you describe your property or answer a buyer's questions, you are subject to the material-information duty under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the DMCC Act). In plain terms, you must answer honestly and you must not omit or misrepresent facts that a buyer would reasonably need to know. A misleading answer - whether a false claim or a meaningful silence about a known problem - can create liability and can affect the sale. So if a buyer asks about damp, boundary disputes, past flooding, building work done without sign-off, noisy neighbours, or anything else you genuinely know about, give a truthful answer. If you are not sure of something, say you are not sure rather than guessing. You are not expected to be a surveyor or a solicitor, and you do not have to volunteer an opinion you do not hold, but you must not knowingly mislead. When in doubt, "I'm not certain, your surveyor or solicitor can confirm that" is a safe and honest response. Anything that touches tax, legal title or your specific obligations as a seller is best checked against current official sources rather than memory, as the rules change. For tax questions about selling a home, start with gov.uk/tax-sell-home and the wider guidance from HM Revenue and Customs, and check the current figures there. If your situation is complex - a leasehold flat, a probate sale, a boundary question - a conveyancing solicitor is the right person to advise. Bringing in help if you want it Handling your own viewings and offers does not have to be all-or-nothing. If at any stage you would prefer support - whether that is accompanied viewings, negotiation, or simply someone to manage the enquiries - you can bring a local estate agent into the process. Many sellers enjoy running the early stages themselves and then decide what level of help suits them. Whichever way you go, the honesty duty and the legal position on offers stay the same. Frequently asked questions Do I legally have to use an estate agent to sell my home? No. There is no legal requirement to use an estate agent to sell a property in the UK, and you are entitled to conduct your own viewings and handle offers directly. Many private sellers run the whole process themselves. You can also bring in a local agent at any point if you would prefer some support. Is an accepted offer legally binding? In England and Wales, no - an accepted offer is not legally binding until contracts are exchanged, and until that point either party can withdraw. This is what the terms "gazumping" and "gazundering" describe. Because of this, it is sensible to move promptly once you accept an offer. Note that the position is different in Scotland. Do I have to accept the highest offer? No. You are not legally obliged to accept any particular offer, including the highest one. A slightly lower offer from a chain-free buyer who can move quickly may suit you better than a higher offer that depends on a long chain. Weigh up price alongside funding, chain, timescale and any conditions. What can I say to a buyer without getting into trouble? Answer honestly and do not omit or misrepresent facts a buyer would reasonably need to know - this is your material-information duty under the DMCC Act 2024. You are not expected to be a surveyor or solicitor, so if you are unsure of something, say so rather than guessing. A misleading answer, including staying silent about a known problem, can create liability and affect the sale. How do I stay safe conducting my own viewings? These are sensible precautions rather than legal rules, but they matter when you are inviting strangers into your home. Take a name and contact details when booking and confirm beforehand, try not to view alone, let someone know a viewing is happening, and keep valuables out of sight. Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, you can end the viewing at any time. How should I qualify a buyer before accepting an offer? Ask about their position, funding and timescale - for example whether they are chain-free, paying cash or have a mortgage agreement in principle, and how quickly they want to move. You can ask for proof of funds and proof of identity before progressing an offer, and serious buyers will expect to provide it. Conveyancers also run their own anti-money-laundering and identity checks once the sale is under way, so the formal verification does not rest on you alone. Related guides How to sell your home privately: a step-by-step guide Material information: what you must disclose when selling A Seller's Guide to Listing Your Home in the UK List your home on Domovita - free for private sellers General information, not legal advice. This guide explains the rules in plain English and is kept under review, but the law changes and every situation is different. 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