An auction legal pack is the set of legal documents you must make available before your property goes into the auction catalogue. Getting it prepared properly gives buyers and their solicitors the confidence to bid, and reduces the risk of queries or complications after the sale.
Preparation is a fixed fee of £350, plus searches. Allow 2 to 6 weeks from instructing your solicitor to having a complete pack ready for the auctioneer.
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What is in an auction legal pack
An auction legal pack is the bundle of legal documents and information about your property that buyers and their solicitors review before bidding, prepared and made available ahead of the auction. A complete pack should include: title deeds and title plan, conveyancing searches, the special conditions of sale, the Property Information Form (TA6), the Fixtures and Fittings Form (TA10), a valid EPC and, for leasehold properties, the TA7 form and leasehold management pack.
Your solicitor obtains most of this on your behalf. Two things need your input directly:
- The TA6, covering boundaries, disputes, alterations, planning permissions, building regulations, services, insurance and occupiers
- The TA10, setting out what is and isn't included in the sale
Answering these promptly and accurately is the main thing that keeps your pack on schedule.
How we prepare your legal pack
- You instruct us. The earlier you do this relative to your target auction date, the more room there is to deal with anything unexpected.
- We obtain the title documents and commission searches. Title register, title plan, local authority, environmental, drainage and water searches, all from official sources.
- You complete the TA6 and TA10. We'll guide you through both so nothing gets missed.
- We draft the special conditions of sale. Including any provisions to recover your search costs from the buyer on completion.
- For leasehold properties, we request the management pack. Service charge accounts, ground rent, lease details, from the freeholder or managing agent.
- You get a complete pack ready for the auctioneer. In good time for the catalogue deadline.
Allow 2 to 6 weeks from instructing your solicitor to having a complete pack ready for the auctioneer. Leasehold properties can take longer, since management packs depend on third parties responding.
Upfront legal packs
Some sellers, particularly estate agents, property investors and auctioneers, choose to have a legal pack prepared in advance of marketing, before a buyer is found. This is sometimes called an upfront legal pack or a buyer's pack.
Having the pack ready from the outset speeds up the transaction, gives buyers more time to review the documents and can improve buyer confidence. If you manage a portfolio of properties or work with auction houses regularly, our solicitors can prepare upfront legal packs as part of an ongoing service.
How much does an auction legal pack preparation cost
Legal pack preparation is a fixed fee of £350, plus the cost of searches, which your solicitor will confirm once they know the details of the property.
Many sellers include a condition in the special conditions of sale requiring the buyer to reimburse these costs on completion, so the upfront outlay doesn't always fall on you long term. Your solicitor can set this up as part of the preparation.
Homeward legal have been highly…
Homeward legal have been highly professional and very supportive during my time purchasing a house. They are providing very timely and knowledgeable advice as it is an auction lot. I wiuld highly recommended Homeward Legal to anyone who requires conveyancing services they can trust and within set dealines.
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Frequently asked questions about auction legal pack preparation
How long is a legal pack valid for once it's prepared?
A legal pack is generally valid for up to six months from the date it was prepared. If your property goes through a previous auction without selling, your solicitor will need to check the pack is still current and that searches are still in date before it's used again.
What if a document can't be obtained in time for the auction?
Your solicitor will flag anything that's taking longer than expected, such as a search result or information from a managing agent, as early as possible. Missing documents close to the auction date can put buyers off bidding, so it's worth allowing enough lead time and responding quickly to any requests from your solicitor.
Who pays for the legal pack, and what does it typically cost?
You, as the seller, pay for the preparation of the legal pack. The buyer separately pays for their own solicitor to review it. In some cases you can build in a condition requiring the buyer to reimburse your search costs on completion, which your solicitor can set out in the special conditions of sale.
Can the same legal pack be used if the property doesn't sell first time?
Yes. If your property doesn't sell at the original auction, the same legal pack can be used for a subsequent auction or a post-auction sale, provided it's still within its validity period and the documents are still current.
Can I prepare the legal pack myself?
There's nothing stopping you gathering the documents yourself, but most sellers instruct a solicitor to keep everything in one place and make sure nothing is missing before the catalogue deadline. It also means the special conditions of sale are drafted properly, which matters if you want to pass on costs like search fees to the buyer.
