Property Information Form TA6 Explained

TL;DR: The Property Information Form (TA6) is a standard questionnaire sellers complete about their home, covering everything from boundaries and disputes to alterations and utilities. Getting the Property Information Form (TA6) right matters because your answers form part of the legal record of the sale, so honesty and thoroughness count for more than speed.

If you're selling a home, at some point early in the process your solicitor or licensed conveyancer will send over a lengthy form asking dozens of detailed questions about your property. This is the TA6, and for many sellers it's the first moment the conveyancing process feels genuinely time-consuming, rather than just paperwork and waiting around.

This article looks specifically at the Property Information Form (TA6): what it asks, why each section exists, and what tends to trip sellers up when completing it. It doesn't repeat the broader conveyancing overview or general selling checklist you'll find elsewhere on this site — instead it goes deep on this one form, since it's genuinely one of the most important documents you'll fill in during a sale.

Before going further: I'm a blogger, not a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, and nothing here is personal legal advice. The TA6 form and its questions can have real legal consequences depending on your specific circumstances, so anything unclear or unusual about your property is always worth raising directly with your own solicitor or licensed conveyancer.

A relatable scenario: many sellers sit down with the TA6, see a question about a boundary dispute from a decade ago, and aren't sure whether it still counts. That kind of hesitation is exactly why this form deserves proper attention rather than a rushed afternoon.

Table of contents

• What the Property Information Form (TA6) actually is
• Why the TA6 matters so much legally
• Key sections of the form, explained
• Boundaries, disputes and neighbour issues
• Alterations, planning permission and guarantees
• Utilities, services and environmental matters
• Common mistakes sellers make on the TA6
• Getting help completing the form
• FAQs about the Property Information Form (TA6)
• Summary and what to do next

What the Property Information Form (TA6) actually is

The TA6 is one of the Law Society's standard conveyancing forms, used across England and Wales in the vast majority of residential sales. It's essentially a detailed questionnaire that asks you, as the seller, to disclose information about the property that a buyer wouldn't otherwise be able to find out from a survey or a search.

Why a standard form exists at all

Before standard forms like the TA6 became common practice, buyers' solicitors had to send individual, bespoke enquiries to sellers for every transaction, which made conveyancing slower and less consistent. The TA6 exists to streamline this by covering the questions that come up in nearly every sale, in a single standardised document.

• It's completed by the seller, based on their own knowledge of the property
• It's sent to the buyer's solicitor as part of the contract pack
• It sits alongside other forms, such as the TA10 Fittings and Contents Form
• It's updated periodically by the Law Society, so the exact wording can change slightly over time

Why the TA6 matters so much legally

It's tempting to treat the TA6 as just another piece of admin, but the answers you give on it can have consequences well beyond the sale itself. This is one of the reasons it's worth taking seriously rather than rushing through.

The legal weight of your answers

Answers given on the TA6 typically form part of the legal record of the transaction. If a buyer later discovers that an answer was inaccurate or misleading, and they suffered a loss as a result, this can potentially lead to a legal claim against the seller, sometimes even after completion has taken place.

• Incomplete or inaccurate answers can cause disputes long after you've moved out
• Buyers rely on the form when deciding whether to proceed and at what price
• Saying "not known" honestly is generally safer than guessing an answer you're unsure of
• Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer can help you word answers appropriately if a situation is complicated

Why "I didn't think it mattered" isn't a safe approach

Many sellers assume that small or long-resolved issues don't need mentioning — a minor boundary disagreement years ago, a leak that was fixed, an extension built without checking permission requirements. The safer approach is usually to disclose these things and let your solicitor or licensed conveyancer help frame the answer appropriately, rather than deciding unilaterally that something isn't worth mentioning.

Key sections of the form, explained

The TA6 is divided into numbered sections, each covering a different aspect of the property. Understanding what each section is really asking can make the form much less daunting.

An overview of the main sections

While the exact numbering can shift between form updates, the TA6 typically covers a consistent set of topics from start to finish.

• Boundaries: who owns and maintains which boundary, and whether there have been any disputes
• Disputes and complaints: neighbour disputes, complaints made or received, and ongoing issues
• Notices and proposals: any notices received from local authorities, neighbours or utility companies
• Alterations, planning and building control: extensions, conversions and other structural changes
• Guarantees and warranties: for things like damp proofing, windows or new-build cover
• Insurance: whether the property has ever had unusual insurance claims or been hard to insure
• Environmental matters: flooding, japanese knotweed, and other environmental considerations
• Rights and informal arrangements: shared access, rights of way, or informal agreements with neighbours
• Parking, utilities and services: how the property connects to mains services and any parking arrangements
• Occupiers: who lives at the property and whether anyone else has a legal interest in it

Why the order and grouping matters less than accuracy

It doesn't much matter if you find one section trickier than another or need to come back to a question later. What matters more is working through each section carefully rather than skimming past questions that seem irrelevant at first glance.

Boundaries, disputes and neighbour issues

This is often one of the sections sellers find most uncomfortable, simply because most of us don't think about boundary ownership or old disagreements day to day.

What the form is really asking

The boundaries section typically asks who is responsible for maintaining each boundary (fences, walls and hedges), whether boundaries have moved, and whether there have been any disputes with neighbours about them, even informal ones.

• Think back over your entire period of ownership, not just recent years
• Include disputes that were resolved amicably, not just ongoing ones
• Consider disagreements about noise, trees, parking or shared access, not just physical boundaries
• If you're not sure who owns a boundary, it's fine to say so rather than guess

Red flags to watch for

• An unresolved dispute you've been meaning to "sort out eventually" — this needs disclosing now, not later
• Correspondence with a neighbour or local authority you'd rather forget about — it likely still needs mentioning
• Informal agreements about shared driveways, walls or access that were never put in writing
• A boundary that doesn't match what's shown on the title plan

Alterations, planning permission and guarantees

If you've ever extended, converted or significantly altered your property, this section deserves particular care, since planning and building control questions can genuinely affect a buyer's decision and their mortgage lender's willingness to lend.

What counts as an alteration

This isn't limited to obvious extensions. Loft conversions, removed internal walls, replacement windows, conservatories, garden buildings over a certain size, and even some fencing changes can potentially fall into scope, depending on the specifics.

• List all significant alterations made during your ownership, and any you're aware of from before that
• Gather any planning permission documents, building regulations certificates or completion certificates you have
• If you're missing paperwork for an older alteration, say so rather than assuming it's fine
• Include guarantees for things like damp proofing, timber treatment, or replacement windows if you have them

What if you don't have the paperwork

It's very common for sellers to have lost or never received certain certificates, particularly for work carried out by a previous owner. Rather than leaving the question blank or guessing, it's usually best to explain honestly what you do and don't have, and let your solicitor or licensed conveyancer advise on next steps, which sometimes include applying for indemnity insurance.

Utilities, services and environmental matters

This section covers the practical connections that keep a property running, along with a handful of environmental questions that have become increasingly prominent in recent years.

Utilities and services

Buyers want to understand how the property connects to mains services, whether any of these run through neighbouring land, and whether there are any shared arrangements.

• Confirm which utilities are connected: mains water, gas, electricity, and drainage
• Note whether any pipes, cables or drains serving your property cross a neighbour's land, or vice versa
• Mention any shared drainage or septic tank arrangements
• Flag anything unusual about your internet or phone connection if it's likely to be relevant

Environmental questions

The environmental section typically asks about flood risk, japanese knotweed, and sometimes other matters like mining history or contaminated land, depending on the area.

• Answer flood questions honestly, even if flooding was minor or long ago
• If you're aware of japanese knotweed on or near the property, this needs disclosing — don't assume it's been fully dealt with without confirming
• Mention any history of subsidence or structural movement, along with any related insurance claims or remedial work

Common mistakes sellers make on the TA6

Some mistakes come up repeatedly across sales, and being aware of them in advance can help you avoid the most common pitfalls.

Rushing through the form

The TA6 is long, and it's tempting to power through it in one sitting without pausing to check dates, dig out paperwork, or think carefully about older events. Many sellers find it easier to complete it over a few sessions, gathering documents as they go rather than guessing.

• Guessing at dates or details rather than checking paperwork
• Assuming a past issue doesn't need mentioning because it's since been resolved
• Leaving questions blank instead of writing "not known" or explaining why
• Not asking a partner, family member or previous owner for missing details when possible
• Forgetting to update the form if new information comes to light after submitting it

Red flags to watch for

• A question you're tempted to skip because "it probably doesn't apply" — if in doubt, answer it anyway
• Conflicting information between the TA6 and other documents, such as the title register or a survey from when you bought the property
• Pressure from an estate agent or buyer to rush the form to keep a sale on track — accuracy should come first

Getting help completing the form

You don't have to complete the TA6 entirely on your own, and it's generally a good idea to lean on your solicitor or licensed conveyancer where you're unsure.

How your conveyancer can help

Solicitors and licensed conveyancers see the TA6 completed for a huge variety of properties, and they're generally well placed to advise on how to phrase a tricky answer or what supporting documents might help.

• Ask your solicitor or licensed conveyancer if you're unsure how to answer a specific question
• Provide as much supporting paperwork as you can find, even if it feels incomplete
• Let them know early if you think a particular section might be complicated, so they can plan for it
• Consider asking whether indemnity insurance might help with any gaps in your paperwork

FAQs about the Property Information Form (TA6)

What is the Property Information Form (TA6) used for?
It's a standard form sellers complete to disclose information about their property to the buyer, covering things like boundaries, disputes, alterations and utilities, as part of the conveyancing process.

Do I have to answer every question on the TA6?
In general, yes — you should aim to answer every question as fully and honestly as you can, and if something genuinely isn't known to you, it's usually fine to say so rather than leaving it blank.

What happens if I get something wrong on the TA6?
An inaccurate or misleading answer can potentially lead to a legal dispute after completion, particularly if the buyer suffers a financial loss as a result, so it's always worth taking care and asking your conveyancer if you're unsure.

Do I need to disclose a boundary dispute that's already been resolved?
Many sellers choose to disclose past disputes even if resolved, since the form typically asks about disputes generally rather than only ongoing ones; your solicitor or licensed conveyancer can advise on the specific wording.

What if I don't have planning permission documents for an old extension?
This is common, particularly for older alterations, and it's usually best to explain what you do and don't have rather than guessing, since your conveyancer may suggest options such as indemnity insurance.

Can my estate agent help me fill in the TA6?
Estate agents aren't generally responsible for completing this form, since it needs your personal knowledge of the property; it's typically sent by your solicitor or licensed conveyancer for you to complete.

Summary and what to do next

• The Property Information Form (TA6) is a standard questionnaire sellers complete about their property, covering boundaries, disputes, alterations, utilities and more
• Answers on the TA6 form part of the legal record of the sale, so accuracy and honesty matter more than speed
• Common mistakes include rushing through the form, guessing at details, and assuming resolved issues don't need mentioning
• Gathering supporting paperwork in advance can make several sections much easier to complete
• Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer can help with wording and next steps if any section feels complicated

This article is general information about how the TA6 form typically works, not personal legal advice about your own property. Every home has its own history, so it's always worth discussing anything unusual or uncertain with your own solicitor or licensed conveyancer before you submit the form.

Need help or have questions?

We can't give legal advice on this site — we're bloggers, not solicitors or licensed conveyancers — but we're happy to point you towards more guides if any part of completing the TA6 feels unclear.

You can reach us through our contact form on the website using the button below. For advice specific to your own property or sale, please speak to a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer directly.

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Reminder: this site is a blog, not a law firm, and nothing in this article is a substitute for professional legal advice. Always get personalised guidance from a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer before making decisions about buying or selling a home.