Essential Paperwork for a Fast Home Sale
Preparing your paperwork is key to a fast home sale. Learn which documents you’ll need, how to get them quickly, and how We Buy Any House can manage the entire process for you.
When it comes to selling your home, speed and organisation go hand in hand. Even if you’ve found the perfect buyer or accepted a cash offer, missing paperwork can slow your sale down, or worse, cause it to fall through altogether.
Whether you’re selling through an estate, privately or to a cash buyer like We Buy Any House, having your documents ready is one of the easiest ways to ensure a fast home sale.
This comprehensive guide explains exactly which documents you’ll need, why they matter, and how to get them quickly.
Plus, we’ll show you how We Buy Any House can handle the admin, documentation, and solicitor work for you, making your sale stress-free from start to finish.
Why documents matter in a fast home sale
A fast home sale isn’t just about finding a buyer quickly; it’s about moving efficiently through the legal and administrative steps that follow. Missing or incorrect documents can cause costly delays.
Having all your paperwork ready upfront helps you:
• Avoid delays when conveyancers request documents
• Build buyer confidence by showing transparency
• Speed up completion, especially when selling for cash
• Reduce legal risks, as all ownership and compliance issues are clearly documented
If your goal is to have a fast home sale, within 7-14 days, documentation is key. That’s why companies like We Buy Any House manage all the admin, legal and compliance steps for you, so you can move forward quickly without the paperwork headache.
The essential documents for a fast home sale
Let’s go through the key documents every seller needs, and why they matter.
Proof of identity and address
Before anything else, your solicitor needs to confirm your identity. This is a legal requirement under anti-money laundering regulations.
You’ll need:
• A valid photo ID (passport or drivers’ licence)
• A recent utility bill, bank statement or council tax bill (dates within the last 3 months)
If you’re selling jointly, both owners must provide identification. With We Buy Any House, this is one of the first steps we handle for you, verifying ID quickly so the legal process can begin immediately.
Title deeds
Your title deeds prove you legally own the property. Most homes today are registered with the Land Registry, so your solicitor can usually access this online.
If your property isn’t registered, common with older homes, you may need to provide original paper deeds or request copies from your lender or solicitor.
Why it matters:
Without proof of ownership, the buyer’s solicitor can’t proceed with the transfer, meaning your sale could grind to a halt.
We Buy Any House obtains the title documents directly from the Land Registry, ensuring no delay in verifying ownership.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
An EPC is a legal requirement whenever you sell a property in the UK. It rates your home’s energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and remains valid for 10 years.
If you don’t have a valid EPC, you’ll need to arrange one before listing your home. This can take just a few days to complete.
How to get it:
You can find accredited assessors online through the GOV.UK EPC register.
When you sell to We Buy Any House, we’ll check your EPC status and arrange a new one if needed, saving you the hassle.
Property Information Form (TA6)
The TA6 form is one of the most detailed documents in the selling process. It provides the buyer with essential information about your property, such as:
• Boundaries and disputes
• Building work or alterations
• Utilities and services (gas, electricity, drainage)
• Parking, access and rights of way
• Warranties, guarantees or certificates
It’s designed to ensure transparency and prevent disputes later on.
Pro tip: Be honest and accurate. Any omissions can cause delays or even lead to legal action later.
We Buy Any House manages this disclosure process for you; we’ll guide you through the questions and handle the paperwork with your solicitor.
Fittings and contents form (TA10)
A TA10 document lists what’s included in the sale, such as:
- Kitchen appliances
- Curtains or blinds
- Light fixtures
- Garden sheds or outdoor furniture
By clarifying what stays and what goes, you avoid last-minute confusion during completion.
With We Buy Any House, there’s no need for negotiations over fixtures; we buy your property as is, saving time and stress.
Leasehold or Freehold information
Whether your home is freehold or leasehold determines the documents you’ll need.
If freehold:
You only need your title deeds and property information forms
If leasehold:
You’ll need additional documents, such as:
• The lease agreement
• Ground rent and service charge details
• Freeholder or managing agent contact information
• Recent accounts or notices from the management company
These documents are vital, as they reveal ongoing costs and obligations for the buyer.
We Buy Any House specialises in purchasing both freehold and leasehold properties, even those with short leases or higher service charges.
Building Regulation Certificates
If you’ve made structural changes, such as extensions, loft conversions or new windows, you’ll need Building Regulations approval and any relevant certificates.
Common examples include:
• FENSA or CERTASS certificates (for window installations)
• Gas Safety Certificates
• Electrical Part P certificates
• Planning permission documents, if applicable
If you can’t find them, you can usually request copies from your local council or contractor.
We Buy Any House purchases properties even if certificates are missing, we’ll assess and handle the compliance side ourselves.
Warranties and guarantees
Providing any warranties, guarantees or service agreements adds confidence for buyers and can boost your home’s perceived value.
You should gather:
• New building warranty, e.g. NHBC, Premier Guarantee
• Damp proofing or timber treatment guarantees.
• Roofing or installation warranties
• Boiler or appliance warranties
These aren’t always mandatory, but having them ready speeds up due diligence.
When you sell to, We Buy Any House, missing documents won’t delay your sale, we handle all property checks internally.
Mortgage details and redemption statement
If you still have a mortgage, your lender will provide a redemption statement showing the balance due upon completion.
Your solicitor will use this to ensure that the loan is repaid when the property sale is finalised.
Tip: Request this early; it can take a few days for the lender to prepare it.
At We Buy Any House, our legal team works directly with your lender to ensure your mortgage is repaid quickly and accurately.
Shared ownership or Help to Buy documents
If you purchased your home through Help to Buy, Shared Ownership, or similar schemes, additional documents are needed to confirm your eligibility to sell, including:
- The original agreement with the housing association or scheme provider
- Authority to sell or ‘staircasing’ paperwork
- These can take time to obtain, so start the process early
- We Buy Any House can liaise with your housing provider to handle the paperwork and ensure you have a fast home sale.
Management information pack (leasehold only)
If your property is leasehold, your buyer’s solicitor will require a management information pack. It includes details about the building, service charges, insurance and the managing agent.
This pack is typically provided by your freeholder or management company for a fee (usually £200 – £400).
We Buy Any House can cover the cost of obtaining this pack for you, ensuring there’s no delay in your fast home sale.
Property survey or valuation report
While not essential for you as the seller, having a recent valuation survey can help support your asking price or speed up buyer approval.
Cash buyers like We Buy Any House usually conduct their own property assessments quickly, often within 24-48 hours, to keep your sale moving.
How missing documents can delay your sale
Even a single missing certificate or form can trigger a chain of delays. common examples include:• Waiting for FENSA or electrical certificates
• Unregistered land title issues
• Delayed management pack for leaseholds
• Slow mortgage redemption statements
These can add weeks to your timeline, pushing back completion and risking the sale falling through.
By choosing We Buy Any House, you avoid this entirely, we buy your property as-is and manage all missing documentation behind the scenes.
How We Buy Any House simplifies the process
A fast home sale involves dozens of small administrative steps, but with We Buy Any House, you don’t have to lift a finger.
Here’s how we make it easy:
Step 1: Get your free cash offer
Simply enter your property details online and schedule a consultation with one of our property experts. After your consultation, you’ll receive a no obligation cash offer within 24 hours.
Step 2: We handle all the paperwork
Our experienced team handles:
• Land registry checks
• Solicitor coordination
• EPC and compliance documentation
• Title verification and contracts
Step 3: Complete in as little as 7 days
Once you agree, we complete the sale, often in under two weeks. You’ll receive your funds directly, and your mortgage (if applicable) is paid off immediately.
No estate agents, no listings, no viewings, just a guaranteed, fast home sale.
Tips for keeping your paperwork organised
If you’re preparing to sell, a little preparation can make a huge difference.
Create a ‘Property Sale Folder’
Keep digital and paper copies of all certificates, warranties and forms
Check expiry dates
EPCs and gas certificates need to be valid
Contact your solicitor early
They can pre-check your documents before you go to market
Avoid last-minute stress
Start gathering documents as soon as you decide to sell
The stress-free alternative: Let We Buy Any House handle it
Selling your home can be complicated, especially when it comes to admin. From title deeds to planning documents, every missing form adds time and tension.
That’s why We Buy Any House was created: to give homeowners a simpler, faster and guaranteed route to sell.
We take care of:
- All documentation and legal checks
- Liaising with solicitors, lenders and local authorities
- Covering solicitor fees and EPC costs
- Completing the sale in as little as 7 days, with cash directly to your account.
We’ll handle everything for you.
Conclusion
Paperwork doesn’t have to slow your property sale down. With the right preparation, or the right partner, you can complete smoothly, quickly and stress free.
The key documents like your EPC, title deeds, property forms and certificates are the foundation of every successful transaction. But with We Buy Any House, you don’t even need to worry about tracking them down, we’ll do it for you.
- Sell your home the easy way:
- No viewings
- No estate agent fees
- No paperwork stress
- Completion in as little as 7 days
Get your free cash offer today and discover how simple a fast home sale can be.