Selling a house in Leicester: conveyancing

On a sale, your conveyancer prepares the paperwork the buyer needs, answers their questions, deals with your lender, and hands over the property on completion.

The forms

You’ll be asked to complete standard property information forms, usually the TA6 (property information), TA10 (fittings and contents) and, for leasehold, TA7. Answer them carefully and honestly. They cover boundaries, disputes, notices, alterations, guarantees, services and more. Estate agents are also expected to give buyers material information about a property up front, so some of this may already be needed when you list.

Documents worth finding now

Planning permissions and building regulations sign-off for extensions, loft conversions and new windows. FENSA or equivalent certificates. Gas safety and electrical certificates. Guarantees for damp proofing, roofing or cavity wall insulation. For leasehold, the lease and recent service charge accounts. Missing paperwork is one of the commonest causes of delay, and indemnity insurance is sometimes used as a fix, though buyers and lenders don’t always accept it.

The steps

Your conveyancer obtains your title from HM Land Registry, sends a contract pack to the buyer’s conveyancer, answers enquiries, agrees a completion date, exchanges contracts, and on completion receives the money, pays off your mortgage and estate agent (if you’ve authorised it) and sends you the balance.

Chains

If you’re buying as well, your sale and purchase will usually exchange and complete on the same day. Delays anywhere in the chain affect everyone in it. Your conveyancer can’t control other people’s progress, but a well-prepared sale removes one reason for delay.

Costs

SRA-regulated firms must publish price information for residential conveyancing, including sales. Check whether a quote covers leasehold supplements, a management pack from the managing agent (which the seller often pays for), and bank transfer fees.

Common questions