The TA6 and TA7 Enquiry Forms Explained: A Guide for Buyers and Sellers

When you buy or sell a home, a great deal of important information passes between the two sides through a set of standard forms. Two of the most important are the TA6 and TA7 enquiry forms. 

They often arrive with little explanation, and many people are unsure what they are for or how seriously to treat them. This guide explains what these forms do, why they matter, and what your responsibilities are.

Buying or selling a property is one of the largest financial decisions most people ever make, yet much of the paperwork involved can feel unfamiliar and intimidating. The TA forms are a good example. They look like routine questionnaires, but they carry real legal weight, and the answers given on them can have lasting consequences for both buyer and seller.

Here is what you need to know.

What Your Conveyancer Actually Checks

A buyer's conveyancer has three core tasks.

The first is to examine the legal title, which confirms the seller's right to sell the property and identifies any rights, covenants, or restrictions that affect it. The second is to carry out searches against a range of public registers, which reveal what has been recorded against the property and the surrounding area. The third is to raise enquiries with the seller's conveyancer using a standard set of questions. For freehold properties these are the TA6 enquiries. For leasehold properties an additional set of questions, the TA7, is used as well.

We can also raise further enquiries beyond the standard set if there is a particular issue that concerns you. That is why it is so important to tell us at the very start of the transaction if there is anything you are worried about, or anything significant the seller or the seller's agent has told you about the property, so that we can check that it is correct.

It is equally important to understand what your conveyancer does not do. We do not inspect the property, and we cannot advise on its physical structure or condition. That is the role of a surveyor, supported where necessary by building contractors and by drainage, gas, electrical, or other suitable experts. A thorough survey is one of the most valuable investments a buyer can make, and we always recommend obtaining one.

Caveat Emptor: Why "Buyer Beware" Still Applies

Buying a home does not carry the same consumer protection as buying a car from a dealer or a television from a shop. There is no implied term that a property must be suitable to live in or that it is in good condition. In law this principle is known as caveat emptor, which means "let the buyer beware." A seller may be aware of problems with the property and, in general terms, has no legal obligation to volunteer them.

There are, however, two important protections for buyers.

First, a seller must not lie or misrepresent the position. If a seller answers a question dishonestly or in a misleading way, the buyer may be able to claim damages, and in serious cases may rescind the contract and refuse to complete the purchase.

Second, a seller must disclose inherent defects. This is the single exception to the buyer beware rule, and it is worth understanding clearly.

Inherent Defects Must Be Disclosed

An inherent defect is a problem with the property that the seller actively conceals. Examples include wallpapering over subsidence cracks, painting over rot, or positioning furniture to hide cracks in the structure. Where a seller deliberately disguises a defect in this way, the buyer may be entitled to compensation, and in some cases may even be able to require the seller to buy the property back.

If you are selling and you are concerned that something about the property might amount to an inherent defect, please speak to us before you complete the forms. We will advise you on the right course of action. Honesty at this stage protects you far more effectively than silence.

Answering the Forms Accurately

The TA6 and TA7 forms are important documents that give the buyer key information about the property. If you are selling, you should complete them as thoroughly as possible. Doing so helps avoid delays later in the transaction. Your answers should be accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge, and you should not knowingly leave anything out.

It also helps to provide us with any supporting documents, such as receipts for building work, boiler or electrical certificates, paperwork for solar panels, guarantees, planning permissions, and service charge demands. Much of the information requested in the form will be known only to you, so your input is essential.

There is no legal requirement to answer every question on the forms. If you prefer not to answer a particular question, you may suggest that the buyer relies on their own enquiries, inspections, or surveys. In practice, however, a buyer may be unwilling to proceed without proper answers, and may suspect that an unanswered question is hiding a problem. The far greater risk lies in answering a question incorrectly or misleadingly. If you do, you could be sued for misrepresentation, and in extreme cases of dishonesty the buyer may revoke the contract and require you to buy the property back, refund their costs, and cover their consequential losses.

If you are ever unsure how to answer a question, please ask us. That is exactly what we are here for.

You Must Update Your Replies If Things Change

Sometimes you will learn something new after you have answered the original questions. You might be served with a notice, fall into a dispute with a neighbour, or become aware of something that means your earlier answers are no longer accurate. If this happens, you must tell us, because you may need to update your replies. Failing to do so could leave you exposed to a misrepresentation claim, even though your original answers were honest when you gave them.

Tell Us About Anything the Seller Has Told You

If you are buying, you may have conversations with the seller or their estate agent about the property. This is perfectly normal, but there is an important point to understand. The contract terms will usually say that you cannot rely on anything the seller or their agent tells you informally, unless it has been formally confirmed by the seller's conveyancer to your conveyancer.

For that reason, if the seller or their agent has told you something important, please tell us. We can then obtain formal confirmation of that information through the proper channel, so that you are properly protected if the position later turns out to be different.

Fixtures and Fittings: The TA10 Form

Alongside the enquiry forms, the seller completes a TA10 Fittings and Contents form. This sets out what is included in the sale and what the seller intends to take with them. Agreeing this clearly at the outset avoids disputes and disappointment on completion day.

As a general rule, items that are physically attached to the property form part of what is being sold, and the seller cannot remove them without the buyer's agreement. Items usually included in the sale are things such as built-in kitchen equipment, cooker hoods, baths, showers, light switches and fittings, built-in wardrobes, burglar alarms, wood burning stoves, electric vehicle charging points, flooring, and the trees and plants growing in the garden. Items not normally included are things such as free-standing fridges and cookers, washing machines, fitted carpets, garden furniture, and plants in pots.

The TA10 form goes through the property room by room and offers a simple tick box for each item, along with a space to note any price if the buyer wishes to purchase something the seller would otherwise take. If you are ever unsure about a particular item, please ask us.

Buying From a Builder or Developer

If you are a private individual buying a residential property from a trader, such as a builder, additional obligations apply under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The seller has a duty to act fairly towards you, which includes providing material information and avoiding any unfair commercial practice, misleading action, or misleading omission.

A misleading action might include false statements about the fitness of the property for its purpose, or about the results of any survey, test, or check carried out on it. A misleading omission might include concealing material information, or providing it in a way that is unclear or ambiguous.

These regulations do not generally apply where a residential property is sold by one private individual to another for use as a home rather than as a business. If you are buying or selling a property as an investment, please tell us, and we will advise you on whether the regulations apply to your transaction. The Consumer Code for Home Builders also sets out that home buyers should be given enough information before purchase to make an informed decision.

Leasehold Properties and the TA7

If you are buying a leasehold property, the seller will also be asked to complete the TA7 form. This is more detailed than the TA6 and covers matters specific to leasehold ownership, including the length of the lease, its start date, the rent payable, any service charges, who manages the freehold, and who arranges the insurance.

If you are selling a leasehold property, it is very important that you give us all relevant correspondence, including service charge demands, ground rent statements, and any communications from the freeholder or managing agent. The more complete the information you provide, the more accurately we can complete the form, and the smoother the transaction will be.

How We Help

The TA forms are not designed to catch anyone out. They exist to give buyers the information they need and to protect both parties from misunderstandings later. Completed carefully and honestly, with our guidance where you need it, they help your transaction proceed smoothly.

At MJP Conveyancing we take the time to explain these documents properly, and our client portal gives you real-time visibility of your file so that you always know where your transaction stands. If you have a question about any of the forms, or about anything the other side has told you, we would rather you asked early than worried in silence. That is what we are here for.

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This article is intended as general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, please speak to your conveyancer or solicitor.