Selling a home takes about 5 months on average. The process can take longer if you’re part of a chain of buyers and sellers. If you’re also buying a home, read the guide to buying your home . To sell your home, you’ll need to: check how much you owe on your mortgage (if you have one) find out how much your home is worth decide whether to use an estate agent to sell your home choose a solicitor or conveyancer who will do the legal work involved in transferring ownership give potential buyers the right paperwork, including an Energy Performance Certificate for your home decide on a selling price accept or negotiate an offer exchange contracts transfer ownership and move out (called ‘completion’) This guide is about selling a home in England and Wales. Find out how to sell a home in Scotland and how to sell a home in Northern Ireland . Selling a rented property If you’re selling a property you rent out to tenants, you’ll also need to: check if you need to pay Capital Gains Tax give your tenants notice and end the tenancy (if needed) You can get help from a solicitor. Selling a property for someone else There may be extra steps to sell a property if: the other owner has lost mental capacity you’re selling someone’s home after they die (through ‘probate’) you’re selling for someone else using power of attorney Check what you need to do to sell a property for someone else . Selling a specialist retirement property If your home is a specialist retirement property, you’ll need to consider if: any charges or exit fees need to be paid there are any conditions on the sale of the property Protecting yourself from fraud There’s a risk of fraud when selling a home as this involves transferring large sums of money. It’s important to check that you: are speaking to or emailing the person or business you think it is transfer money to the correct bank account/s do not reveal too much personal information on social media Find out how to protect your property from fraud . You can also speak to your legal professional for help and advice about property fraud.

If you have a mortgage on the property you’re selling, you’ll need to move the mortgage to your new property, or pay it off. Check how much it costs to sell Contact your mortgage lender to check: how much mortgage you owe if there are early repayment charges if there are fees to move your mortgage You may also need to pay: any other outstanding debts secured against your home estate agent fees legal fees removal costs Capital Gains Tax if the property is not your main home or includes a lot of land for essential home repairs or improvements resolving issues in the deeds to the property You can find a list of costs on the Which? website . Find out how much your home is worth You’ll need to find out how much your home is worth so you can compare it to the outstanding balance on your mortgage and other moving costs. Knowing the value of your property will also help you to set the right asking price when you’re ready to sell. You can find out how much your home is worth by: researching local house prices online finding out what homes in your area recently sold for using the Land Registry website asking estate agents to value your home You may want to get a formal home valuation. They are carried out by a qualified valuer who will charge for this service. Get the paperwork you’ll need together Before you put your home on the market, you’ll need to make sure you have all the right paperwork to give to a prospective buyer. This might include: property title deeds information on the type of ownership the property has (tenure) - freehold or leasehold an Energy Performance Certificate ( EPC ) planning permission and building regulation certificates FENSA or CERTASS certificates for windows guarantees, warranties and surveys electrical checks party wall agreements Get help from a professional An estate agent and a legal professional can help you gather this information. Identity checks You’ll also need to prove your identity and your address to your: estate agent solicitor or conveyancer mortgage lender

Energy Performance Certificates

An Energy Performance Certificate ( EPC ) tells you how energy efficient a property is. You must have an EPC when you’re: selling a property renting out a property building a new property You must order an EPC for potential buyers and tenants before you market your property to sell or rent. In Scotland, you must display the EPC somewhere in the property, for example in the meter cupboard or next to the boiler. An EPC contains: information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs steps to improve a property’s energy efficiency and save money An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (best) to G (worst) and is valid for 10 years. Check if a property has a valid EPC It’s free to check if a property has a valid EPC . How to get an EPC If your property does not have an EPC or it has expired, you’ll need a new one before you get your property ready to sell or rent. You’ll need to pay for an EPC from an accredited assessor. Your estate agent may be able to help arrange this. You can be fined if you do not get an EPC when you need one. The person selling the house, the landlord or the letting agent must show you the EPC if you’re buying or renting. When you do not need an EPC You do not need an EPC for: temporary buildings that will be used for less than 2 years stand-alone buildings with total useful floor space of less than 50 square metres industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that do not use a lot of energy some buildings that are due to be demolished holiday accommodation that’s rented out for less than 4 months a year or is let under a licence to occupy listed buildings - you should get advice from your local authority conservation officer if the work would alter the building’s character residential buildings intended to be used less than 4 months a year places of worship Get help finding an EPC or assessor Contact the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ( MHCLG ) if you need help with finding an EPC or accredited assessor. MHCLG mhclg.digital-services@communities.gov.uk Telephone: 020 3829 0748 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges

Getting an estate agent

You can sell your home yourself or use an online, high street or hybrid estate agent. If you decide to use an estate agent, you must sign a legally binding contract with them. Fees Check your contract with the estate agent to find out: how much they charge what’s included in their fee If you use more than one estate agent, you may need to pay fees to more than one of them when your home sells (called dual fees). This will depend on the type of contract you sign with the estate agent and whether they have sole selling rights to your home. You must stick to the terms of the contract or you could be taken to court. Estate agents are also legally obliged to pass on any other offers for your home right up to when contracts are exchanged. Recommendations from estate agents or mortgage lenders Your estate agent and mortgage lenders might recommend legal professionals, mortgage brokers or surveyors to you. You must be told if the estate agent or mortgage lender gets a payment (a ‘referral fee’) from the company they’re recommending. You do not have to use the company that’s been recommended to you.

Finding a solicitor or conveyancer

A legal professional can handle the legal work involved in transferring the ownership of your home (conveyancing). They can advise you on the different stages before you put your home on the market. However, you can choose to do your own conveyancing. There are various legal professionals who are qualified to carry out conveyancing work: solicitors licensed conveyancers chartered legal executives and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives ( CILEX ) practitioners Check that your legal professional is regulated by the appropriate body.

Offers and negotiations

Choosing a buyer Buyers can make offers verbally (over the phone or in person) or in writing. If you’re using an estate agent to sell your home, buyers must make an offer through them. Your estate agent must inform you of any offers made. If you’re selling your home privately, buyers can make offers directly to you. During this stage, negotiations may take place between you and the buyer. An offer is not legally binding in England and Wales until contracts are exchanged . Enquiries The buyer’s solicitor or conveyancer will ask you questions about: the title searches the mortgage offer the property the transaction A legal professional can advise you on how you should answer these if you’re not sure. Accepting an offer Once you’ve accepted an offer, the buyer’s solicitor or conveyancer will arrange searches and a review of the property’s title. Your property is not legally sold until you’ve exchanged written contracts with the buyer.

Transferring ownership (conveyancing)

After you’ve accepted an offer, you’re responsible for drawing up a legal contract to transfer ownership. The contract needs to include details about: the sale price the property boundaries which fixtures and fittings (like carpets and kitchen units) are included any legal restrictions or rights, like public footpaths or rules about using the property any planning restrictions services to the property, like drainage and gas when the sale will complete If you’ve hired a solicitor or conveyancer, they will: draft the initial contract answer questions from the buyer’s solicitor or conveyancer (with your help) negotiate the details of the contract if necessary Exchanging contracts When both you and the buyer are happy with the contract, you’ll both sign final copies and send them to each other. The agreement to sell and buy is then legally binding. Usually, neither of you can pull out at this point without paying compensation. Completion Once you exchange contracts and deal with any remaining checks the buyer has asked for, their solicitor or conveyancer will transfer the money. Your solicitor or conveyancer will then pay off: the mortgage any secured debts (if you have them) stamp duty (if you’re buying another property) any outstanding estate agent fees (if you’ve used one) services charges (if relevant) their fee as your legal representative The remaining balance will then be sent to your account. You’ll also need to send the legal documents needed to transfer ownership to the buyer. You must leave the property in the state agreed in the contract when you move out. Citizens Advice has more advice about selling a home . Capital Gains Tax You do not pay Capital Gains Tax when you sell (or ‘dispose of’) your home if all of the following apply: you’ve lived in it as your main home for all the time you’ve owned it you have not let part of it out or used part of it for business only the grounds, including the buildings, are smaller than 5,000 square metres (just over an acre) This is because you automatically get a tax relief called Private Residence Relief. You do not need to do anything. If you do not meet all these criteria you may have to pay some Capital Gains Tax.

You can make a complaint to a company involved in the sale if you’re unhappy with their service. Follow the company’s complaints procedure. If they do not respond or you’re not happy with their response, you can complain to the relevant ombudsman service or scheme. That ombudsman will investigate the complaint for free. Complain about an estate agent You can complain to one of the following: The Property Ombudsman Property Redress Scheme Ask the estate agent which scheme they belong to. The Which? website has more advice on how to make a complaint about an estate agent. Complain about a legal professional Contact the Legal Ombudsman . Citizens Advice has more advice on how to make a complaint about a solicitor or conveyancer. Complain about a mortgage lender Contact the Financial Ombudsman Service .

Selling a home

Q: Selling a property for someone else

You can contact a legal professional if you need help selling a property in special circumstances. Selling a home if the other owner has lost mental capacity You’ll have to apply to the Court of Protection if you want to sell the property but the other owner has lost mental capacity . Losing mental capacity means someone cannot make a decision for themselves at the time it needs to be made. Selling a home after an owner has died Probate is the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions (their ‘estate’) when they die. Check if you need to apply for probate . Selling under power of attorney A power of attorney gives someone else the right to make or help make decisions about someone else’s property, including selling their home. Selling property under power of attorney will depend upon what type of power of attorney is in place - a lasting power of attorney or an enduring power of attorney .

Overview

Selling a home takes about 5 months on average. The process can take longer if you’re part of a chain of buyers and sellers.

If you’re also buying a home, read the guide to buying your home.

To sell your home, you’ll need to:

check how much you owe on your mortgage (if you have one)
find out how much your home is worth
decide whether to use an estate agent to sell your home
choose a solicitor or conveyancer who will do the legal work involved in transferring ownership
give potential buyers the right paperwork, including an Energy Performance Certificate for your home
decide on a selling price
accept or negotiate an offer
exchange contracts
transfer ownership and move out (called ‘completion’)

This guide is about selling a home in England and Wales. Find out how to sell a home in Scotland and how to sell a home in Northern Ireland.

Selling a rented property

If you’re selling a property you rent out to tenants, you’ll also need to:

check if you need to pay Capital Gains Tax
give your tenants notice and end the tenancy (if needed)

You can get help from a solicitor.

Selling a property for someone else

There may be extra steps to sell a property if:

the other owner has lost mental capacity
you’re selling someone’s home after they die (through ‘probate’)
you’re selling for someone else using power of attorney

Check what you need to do to sell a property for someone else.

Selling a specialist retirement property

If your home is a specialist retirement property, you’ll need to consider if:

any charges or exit fees need to be paid
there are any conditions on the sale of the property

Protecting yourself from fraud

There’s a risk of fraud when selling a home as this involves transferring large sums of money. It’s important to check that you:

are speaking to or emailing the person or business you think it is
transfer money to the correct bank account/s
do not reveal too much personal information on social media

Find out how to protect your property from fraud.

You can also speak to your legal professional for help and advice about property fraud.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Selling a home

Overview

Selling a rented property

Selling a property for someone else

Selling a specialist retirement property

Protecting yourself from fraud

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Selling a home

Overview

Selling a rented property

Selling a property for someone else

Selling a specialist retirement property

Protecting yourself from fraud

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