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What documents do I need to sell my house? The full list and who supplies each

What documents do I need to sell my house in England and Wales: the full checklist, who supplies each one, which are for flats and what to do if deeds…

  • 4 min read
  • Last reviewed 4 November 2026
  • By Your Property Check team

Key answer

What documents do I need to sell my house? GOV.UK lists title deeds and tenure, an energy certificate, planning and building regulation papers, window certificates, warranties and fire safety information for flats, plus proof of identity and address. Your conveyancer then asks you to complete the property information and contents forms.

Part 1 of 6

The checklist

General information, not advice. Read our Terms. This page covers England and Wales, checked on 4 November 2026. GOV.UK's Preparing to sell guide says to gather these before you list, because buyers will expect them. The table adds who supplies each one and where our guide to it is.

DocumentWho supplies itNeeded forOur page
Title register, also called the title deedsHM Land Registry, or your lender or solicitor if they hold themProving what you own and on what termsLand Registry search
Proof of identity and addressYouYour agent, conveyancer and mortgage lenderID1 form
Energy Performance CertificateAn accredited assessorMarketing the homeFind an EPC
Property information form (TA6)You, for the buyer's solicitorTelling the buyer about boundaries, disputes, alterationsTA6 form
Fittings and contents formYouAgreeing what staysFixtures and fittings
Planning permission and building regulation certificatesThe council or your installerAny extension or alterationProperty check
FENSA or CERTASS certificatesYour window installerReplacement windowsAsk the installer
Warranties, surveys, electrical checksInstallers and previous reportsWork done to the homeAsk the installer
Party wall agreementsWhoever arranged the workWork near a shared wallKeep with the deeds
Fire safety information, flats onlyYour freeholder or managing agentA flat saleEWS1 form
Transfer deed (TR1)Your conveyancerCompletionTR1 form

Part 2 of 6

Which are for flats only?

GOV.UK lists fire safety information only for a flat. Our guide to the EWS1 form explains the external wall check that some lenders ask for on flats. A flat is also usually leasehold, so the buyer's solicitor will want the lease and information about charges. Our page on how to check whether a property is freehold or leasehold shows how to see the tenure. We read no official list of leasehold documents, so ask the freeholder or managing agent which papers they hold.

Part 3 of 6

What if I have lost the deeds?

GOV.UK's page on searching land and property information does not cover lost deeds, so we do not give a rule for unregistered land. For registered land the position is simpler. GOV.UK says title registers are sometimes known as title deeds, because they hold the information from old paper deeds. It says the property summary is free, and a title register or title plan costs £7 each through the search service. Official copies cost £11 per document and are posted to you. Online copies need a sign-in and a debit or credit card, and GOV.UK says they are not proof of ownership. Your conveyancer will say which copy they need.

Part 4 of 6

Which need ordering early?

We found no official turnaround time for any of these, so we give none. Practical order:

  1. Energy certificate. GOV.UK says you need it before you market the home, it costs money from an accredited assessor, and it is valid for 10 years. First check whether one already exists using GOV.UK's find an energy certificate service, which lets you search by postcode, street or certificate number and is free to download. Our EPC finder is another place to look.
  2. Title register. Order it early so your conveyancer can check it.
  3. Identity papers. Have them ready for the agent and the conveyancer.
  4. Installer certificates. Ask early, since you may be chasing other firms.
  5. Forms. Complete the property information and contents forms as soon as you instruct a conveyancer. Answer honestly and say when you do not know.

Part 5 of 6

Why the paperwork matters

A buyer's solicitor reads these documents to check what is being sold, and a missing certificate for an extension or new windows is a common reason for questions. Having the papers ready lets your conveyancer answer quickly and can avoid delay once an offer is agreed. If a document is missing, tell your conveyancer early rather than hoping it is not noticed. They can say whether the gap can be filled, for example by a copy from the supplier or the council, or by another route, and which one the buyer's lender will accept.

Part 6 of 6

After the offer

Once a buyer is found, your conveyancer sends the contract papers and the forms, and the transfer is signed as a deed. See how to sell a house step by step for the whole order, and conveyancing fees when selling for the cost of the legal work.

This page is general information, not advice.

Our take

Order the energy certificate and deeds first

Our view: gather the paperwork before you list, not after an offer. The energy certificate is needed before you market the home, and the title register is what your conveyancer checks first, so order those early. The common mistake is leaving installer certificates, such as window certificates, until the buyer's solicitor asks.

What Your Property Check adds: our free EPC finder is a quick place to look for your certificate, and our property checker shows sold prices, EPC, crime, flood, planning and council tax for any UK address or postcode.

Find my EPC

Our opinion, drawn from the facts on this page: not advice and not a forecast. We earn from OfferCheck reports and from introducing sellers to cash buyers, so weigh it with that in mind (see our disclosure). We are not authorised or regulated by the FCA.

Questions, answered

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need to sell my house?
GOV.UK lists title deeds and tenure details, an EPC, planning and building regulation papers, FENSA or CERTASS certificates, warranties, party wall agreements, fire safety information for flats and proof of identity and address.
Which documents are for flats only?
GOV.UK lists fire safety information for flats. Lenders may also ask for an EWS1 form on some flats, and a buyer's solicitor will want the lease. Ask the freeholder or managing agent which papers they hold.
What if I have lost the deeds?
For registered land, GOV.UK says a title register, sometimes called the title deeds, costs £7 online, and official copies cost £11 by post. GOV.UK's page does not cover lost deeds on unregistered land, so ask your conveyancer.
Which documents need ordering early?
The energy certificate, which you need before marketing, and the title register. We found no official turnaround times, so ask each supplier how long it will take.
Do I need an EPC to sell my house?
Yes in England and Wales. GOV.UK says you need one before you market a home to sell, that it is valid for 10 years, and that you can be fined if you do not get one when needed.

Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed 4 November 2026 by the Your Property Check team. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For your own situation, speak to a conveyancing solicitor or another qualified professional.

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