Auction legal pack review

An auction legal pack is the set of legal documents the seller must make available before the auction takes place. At a traditional auction, once the hammer falls, a winning bid is legally binding, so there's no window afterwards to walk away or renegotiate. Having the pack reviewed by a solicitor before you bid is the single most useful thing you can do. It gives you a clear picture of what you're bidding on before you're committed to it.

A review costs a fixed £300. We aim to turn around a review within 5 working days, and can move faster for urgent cases closer to auction day. Let us know your timescale when you send the pack over and we'll do what we can to meet it.

See our auction property conveyancing service for support from legal pack to completion.

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The contents of a legal pack can vary, but a complete pack should always include the following documents. If anything is missing, your solicitor can request it from the seller's solicitor before auction day.

Title deeds (title register and title plan)

The title register confirms who owns the property and sets out any restrictions, charges or rights of way affecting it. The title plan shows the boundaries of the land. Both are obtained from HM Land Registry.

Conveyancing searches

Unlike a standard sale, searches are carried out by the seller's solicitor before the auction and included in the pack. The main searches are local authority, environmental, drainage and water. They cover things like planning history, flood risk, drainage responsibilities and environmental liabilities in the area.

Special conditions of sale

The special conditions sit alongside the standard auction conditions and cover anything specific to the property. They are worth reading carefully — they can include requirements to reimburse the seller's search costs, unusual access arrangements, land registry restrictions, financial conditions relating to probate, or other obligations that become the buyer's responsibility on completion.

Property Information Form (TA6)

The TA6 covers boundaries, disputes, alterations, planning permissions, building regulations, services, insurance and occupiers. It is completed by the seller and gives buyers a picture of the property's history and current status.

Fixtures and Fittings Form (TA10)

The TA10 sets out what is and is not included in the sale — appliances, fittings, furniture and other physical items. It avoids misunderstandings about what you are actually buying.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

A valid EPC is a legal requirement when selling a property. It shows the energy efficiency rating and makes recommendations for improvement.

Leasehold information form (TA7) - if applicable

Required when selling a leasehold property. It covers service charges, ground rent, lease length and other leasehold obligations. Short leases (below 80 years) and high or escalating ground rents can affect a buyer's ability to get a mortgage and the future saleability of the property.

Leasehold management pack - if applicable

Contains detailed information about the lease agreement, service charge accounts, management structure and any planned or recent major works. Prepared by the freeholder or managing agent.

Reviewing the legal pack yourself is possible, but it requires knowing what to look for. A specialist solicitor will read the full pack, identify any issues and set them out for you in a written report before you commit to a bid.

• Title issues - restrictions, charges, restrictive covenants, missing documents or unresolved entries on the register
• Search results - anything in the local authority, environmental or drainage searches that should affect your decision
• Special conditions - unusual financial obligations or requirements buried in the small print
• Leasehold red flags - short leases, ground rent escalation clauses, large service charge demands or upcoming major works
• Occupation arrangements - tenants, occupiers or anyone else with a right to remain in the property after completion
• Missing documents - if the pack is incomplete, your solicitor will request what's needed from the seller's solicitor

Your solicitor's report gives you a plain English summary of the risks, so you can decide whether and how much to bid with confidence.

An auction legal pack review costs £300. This fee covers the review only. If you win at auction and proceed to completion, your solicitor will charge a separate conveyancing fee for the post-auction work.

Get a free quote below or call us on to speak to one of our auction conveyancing specialists.