Agreeing the Sale Is Just the Beginning
What happens next in a property transaction
When selling your home, it can be difficult to know where to start. Sellers often find that the process can become unnecessarily drawn out, and may even risk falling through, if they do not have the right support in place. However, thorough preparation and guidance from expert professionals can help ensure a smooth, efficient and stress-free transaction. In this article, Keystone Law’s Residential Property partner, Felicity Sergeant, and associate, Mariel Cruz, provide a summary of the sale process and things to consider when selling your country home.
Preparation
Preparation is key. To help ensure a straightforward and efficient process, it is important to prepare as much as possible before putting your property on the market. This includes, collating all the relevant information and documents, completing the required legal forms and instructing an expert solicitor specialising in countryside properties who can assist you in preparing for your sale and deal with the legal work involved in transferring ownership of your property.
Documents which may be required (where applicable):
Land Registry title documents
Information about any works you have carried out to the property and any relevant planning permissions and building control consents
Party wall notices and any other notices or consents
Competent person certificates (e.g. NICEIC, Gas Safe Certificates, FENSA Certificates, HETAS Certificates etc)
Guarantees and warranties
An Energy Performance Certificate
Land Registry title documents
When selling a country house, there are often additional aspects to consider. For example, the following may also apply:
Listed buildings consents
Grazing licences
Sporting rights (e.g. shooting, fishing)
Mines and mineral rights
Overage agreements
Deeds of easement for rights of access and/or services
Informal agreements relating to land and usage
Tree Preservation Orders
Common land
Claims for adverse possession
Unregistered land
Private drainage system installation certificates and service reports
Solar panel installation certificates
A proactive solicitor will assist you in gathering this information.
Property Information Forms
As part of the sale process, you will also be required to complete the Law Society property information forms i.e. the Property Information Form (TA6) and Fittings and Contents Form (TA10). If your country home consists of multiple buildings (for example, a main house and guest lodge or annex), you will need to complete a separate Fittings and Contents Form for each building.
When completing the forms, your solicitor can advise on what questions mean and their legal significance, but they cannot dictate the answers. It is up you to answer the questions truthfully, completely, and accurately from your own knowledge.
Once you have collated all the relevant documents and completed the property information forms, your solicitor will review these at this stage and anticipate any enquiries (see below) or issues which may arise. This is invaluable in helping to avoid any potential delays further down the line.
Contract Papers
Once you have found a buyer and your estate agent has issued the sales memorandum, your solicitor will draft the contract and send this to the buyer’s solicitor, together with the completed property information forms and other relevant information and documents.
Enquiries
The buyer’s solicitor will then review the contract papers and raise any questions (commonly referred to as ‘enquiries’) that they have following their review. With guidance from your solicitor, you will be required to provide replies to the enquiries raised. As with the property information forms, you must answer the enquiries truthfully, completely, and accurately from your own knowledge.
Exchange of Contracts
Once all the enquiries have been sufficiently dealt with and the contract has been agreed, both you and the buyer will need to sign the contract before proceeding to exchange of contracts. Exchange of contracts is when the transaction becomes legally binding and the completion date is contractually agreed. It is also when the buyer will pay the deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price). It is important to note that if you withdraw from the transaction after exchange of contracts, you will be required to return the deposit to the buyer, and you may be liable for any financial losses they have incurred.
Completion
Completion is when the buyer will transfer the balance of the purchase price and take ownership of the property. You will move out and your estate agent will arrange for the buyer to collect the keys. It is important to note that you must leave the property in the state agreed in the contract when you move out.
Once completion has taken place, your solicitor will redeem the mortgage (if applicable) and pay the estate agent’s fees.
Whilst selling your country home can feel like a daunting process, the better prepared you are, the more quickly you are likely to exchange contracts and the less likely the sale is to fall through.
If you are considering selling your country home and would value expert guidance, Felicity and Mariel are specialists in the sale of country houses, with a strong reputation for being proactive, highly responsive, and deeply focused on client service. Rural property transactions often involve complex and sometimes unexpected issues – ranging from title irregularities and rights over land to drainage, access, and historic restrictions. They can help you identify and address these matters early, manage them efficiently, and keep momentum throughout the process.
Felicity and Mariel pride themselves on anticipating challenges before they arise, providing clear, practical advice, and working closely with agents and all parties involved to drive transactions forward to a successful exchange and completion.
If you would like to arrange an initial discussion about your sale please do not hesitate to get in touch with:
Felicity at Felicity.Sergeant@keystonelaw.co.uk
Mariel at Mariel.Cruz@keystonelaw.co.uk