At a glance
- You must order an EPC before you market the home. It lasts 10 years and you can be fined for not having one when you need one.[1]
- Your agent must verify your identity before your property is marketed, and your solicitor and lender will ask too.[2][3]
- Listings should carry material information: council tax band, tenure, property type, utilities, parking and anything that affects the property, such as flood risk or rights of way.[4]
- Your conveyancer will give you standard forms to complete. Ask for them early, because missing paperwork is a common cause of delay.
Rules and figures last checked October 2026.
The Energy Performance Certificate
You must order an EPC for potential buyers before you market your property for sale. It is valid for 10 years, rated from A (best) to G, and you must show it to the buyer. You can be fined if you do not get one when you need one, and there are exemptions, for example for some listed buildings.[1]
The rating must also appear in adverts in commercial media.[5] Once you have the rating, our marketing guide explains how the listing is put together.
Proving who you are
Money-laundering rules mean the estate agent has to identify and verify every seller and buyer. For sellers this starts as soon as possible after first contact and is completed before the relationship begins, which is before the home is marketed. If the agent cannot complete the checks, they cannot proceed.[2] GOV.UK also tells sellers to prove identity and address to their agent, solicitor and lender.[3]
What the listing must say
Trading Standards’ “material information” guidance tells agents what a buyer needs to know before deciding whether to view.[4]
| Part | What it covers |
|---|---|
| A: always | Price, council tax band and tenure.[4] |
| B: every property | Property type and main construction, rooms and measurements, utilities (electricity, water, sewerage, heating, broadband and mobile signal) and parking.[4] |
| C: only if relevant | Building safety such as cladding, restrictions (conservation areas, listed status), rights and easements, flood risk, coastal erosion, planning, accessibility and mining.[4] |
Documents to gather
- The title deeds, or details of your lender and the title number.
- The EPC.
- Planning permissions and building regulation certificates for any work, and guarantees or warranties (for example for windows, boilers and damp-proofing).
- Fire safety information, if you are selling a flat.
- Proof of identity and address.[3]
Your conveyancer will also send standard questionnaires about the property (boundaries, disputes, notices, services, and what is included in the sale), plus extra forms if the home is leasehold. If you are selling a leasehold flat, you will also need information from the freeholder or managing agent, so ask for it as early as you can. For the bigger picture see how selling works.
Sources
Every figure and rule above comes from one of these, read in October 2026. The dates are the ones each publisher shows as when the page was last updated.
- [1]Energy Performance Certificates (buying and selling your home) (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK
- [2]Anti-money laundering guidance for supervised businesses: estate agency (AMLG2200) (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK (HM Revenue and Customs) · page updated 13 October 2026
- [3]Selling a home: preparing to sell (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK
- [4]Full material information guidance published (opens in a new tab)National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team · page updated 30 November 2023 (published)
- [5]A guide to energy performance certificates for the marketing, sale and let of dwellings (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK · page updated 11 December 2017
- [6]Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, section 227: misleading omissions (opens in a new tab)legislation.gov.uk
This is a general guide to selling a home in England, not legal, tax or financial advice. Your own circumstances, and your conveyancer’s advice, decide what applies to you.