TA7 Leasehold Information Form explained

The TA7 Leasehold Information Form, drafted by the Law Society, is completed by the seller of a leasehold property, in addition to the:

• TA6 Property Information Form
• TA10 Fixtures & Contents Form

Sellers need to complete these documents and return them to their solicitor at the first stage of the conveyancing process. In addition to the TA7 Leasehold Information Form, a seller needs to also get their Freeholder / Managing Agent to complete an LPE1 form; this is called the Leasehold Information Pack.

The Law Society recommends that a seller should complete this form as fully as possible, taking advice from their solicitor, and should inform their solicitor if new information comes to light as matters progress.

False information or omission of facts, which could demonstrably have been included, could lead to a buyer suing their seller, if the former can prove they've suffered a loss as a result.

The leasehold information form then covers 12 sections with questions to be answered by the seller.

The 10 sections are:

• 1

  Property and Seller Details

This asks for the full address and postcode of the property, the full name(s) of the seller(s), and the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN), if known.

• 2

  The Lease

You need to indicate here whether your property is a house, flat, maisonette or garage, and whether it is shared ownership, and attach your most recent payment demands for ground rent, service charge and building insurance.

• 3

  Contact Details

This asks for the contact details of the Landlord, Management Company, Right to Manage Company, Freeholder (where different to the Landlord), and Head Leaseholder (where applicable).

• 4

  Management

In this section, you must provide the details of the management agent, if there is one. Indicate who is responsible for collecting insurance and ground rent; whether the seller owns the freehold or a share of the freehold; and whether the management company has been struck off or dissolved.

• 5

  Maintenance and Service Charges

This section mainly concerns whether you have to pay service charges to maintain the outside and communal areas of the building. If you do have to, then you are asked whether you know about any expenses to come, whether there has been any problems about the level of service charges in the last 3 years and if you have challenged the service charge or any expense in the last 3 years.

A landlord has to serve a ‘Section 20’ notice before carrying out major works to a building. If you have received one of these, you should disclose it here and attach a copy.

If you’ve not received such a notice but are aware that major works may be necessary (perhaps a part of the building has been damaged, for example), you should also include details here.

You are also asked if you know whether there have been any issues regarding the level of service charges.

• 6

  Notices

This section asks whether you have received any notices from the landlord, including notice to sell the freehold, which gives you the option of purchasing it.

• 7

  Enfranchisement

This asks whether you have given notice to purchase the freehold or extend the term of the lease, whether you know of any notice served regarding collective enfranchisement, and whether either of these have been replied to.

You should also provide details if you have applied for an extension or purchase informally.

• 8

  Consents

This concerns whether the landlord has informed you about any coming changes or variations to the lease and whether you’ve been given any consents under the lease. Consent is when you’ve asked the landlord if you can do something with/to your property, such as decorate or extend it.

You need to be able to produce paperwork regarding these matters, or, if there was no agreement on paper, you need to see if you can get this from the landlord.

• 9

  Alterations

The question about whether any alterations have occurred concerns your/the seller’s property and not any other flat/dwelling in the block.

If there have, you should give details and include any planning consents, building regulations approvals and guarantees.

Because the landlord’s consent is normally required for any alterations, you are asked to provide proof of it. If you don’t have it, you should contact the landlord for a duplicate of the documented proof.

If no consent was sought, you should speak to your conveyancer first before speaking to the landlord.

• 10

  Complaints

You are asked if you’ve received any complaints from your landlord, management company or any neighbour regarding anything you have or haven’t done.

You are also asked if you are aware of any complaints about landlord/management company/neighbours and are asked to give details if so.

You should include details of any resolved complaints and even complaints you felt were unjustified. Normally, complaints would be in respect of things like noise, pets or littering but could be about anything.

• 11

  Building Safety for Blocks of Flats

This section has been added since the Grenfell Tragedy and concerns cladding, safety defects, remediation, leaseholder protections, deed of certificate and landlord certificate.

• 12

  Additional information

Section 12 is for extra information, which you may attach using separate sheets of paper, as required.