Property documents

Who owns the property, mortgages, rights and restrictions; the plan shows the general boundary.

When: Before making an offer, in boundary questions, or to check who owns land.

Get it from: HM Land Registry ↗

The lease terms: length, ground rent, service charges, restrictions.

When: Buying or owning a leasehold home.

Get it from: HM Land Registry (documents referred to in the register) ↗

A search of the index map to see if land is registered.

When: Land that doesn't show up in a title search.

Get it from: HM Land Registry ↗

What properties sold for, back to 1995.

When: Checking value or a seller's purchase price.

Get it from: HM Land Registry (also in every Plotlumen report) ↗

The A to G energy rating and recommended upgrades.

When: Required to sell or let; check before buying.

Get it from: GOV.UK energy certificate register (also in Plotlumen reports) ↗

Annual check of gas appliances by a Gas Safe engineer.

When: Landlords every year; buyers can ask for the latest.

Get it from: A Gas Safe registered engineer (check registration online) ↗

Electrical safety inspection of the wiring.

When: Landlords at least every 5 years; useful when buying an older home.

Get it from: A registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT or similar) ↗

External wall and fire-safety information for blocks of flats.

When: Buying or remortgaging a flat in a taller block.

Get it from: The building's managing agent or responsible person ↗

Past planning permissions, refusals and conditions.

When: Before buying, and before planning your own work.

Get it from: The local council's planning register (search by address) ↗

Proof that building work passed building control.

When: Any extension, loft conversion, structural change or new drainage.

Get it from: The council's building control team, or the approved inspector used ↗

Certificates for work self-certified by registered installers.

When: Replacement windows and doors, boilers, rewiring, solar.

Get it from: Competent person schemes (FENSA, Gas Safe, NICEIC and others) ↗

Whether the building is listed or in a conservation area.

When: Before any change to an older building.

Get it from: Historic England (England) or Cadw (Wales); your council for conservation areas ↗

Formal notice to neighbours, and the surveyors' award if needed.

When: Work on a shared wall or digging near a neighbour.

Get it from: GOV.UK guidance and template letters; a party wall surveyor ↗

River, sea and surface water flood risk.

When: Before buying; for insurance.

Get it from: GOV.UK (also in Plotlumen reports) ↗

Past mining under or near the property.

When: Buying in former coalfield areas (your solicitor will advise).

Get it from: The Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority) ↗

Natural radioactive gas levels in the area.

When: Buying in higher-risk areas; landlords and employers.

Get it from: UKHSA radon map ↗

Available broadband speeds and mobile signal.

When: Before buying or renting, especially if working from home.

Get it from: Ofcom checker ↗

The band the home is in, and how to challenge it.

When: Budgeting; Plotlumen links you here because no official data feed exists.

Get it from: GOV.UK (England and Wales) ↗

Roads, planning, drainage and contamination searches.

When: Every purchase with a mortgage, and strongly advised for cash buyers.

Get it from: Ordered by your solicitor or conveyancer ↗

The seller's answers about the property, the fittings and contents, and leasehold details.

When: Every sale; your solicitor sends them to you to read.

Get it from: Through the solicitors (Law Society Conveyancing Protocol forms) ↗

Service charges, ground rent, insurance and planned works for a leasehold flat.

When: Buying a leasehold property.

Get it from: The managing agent or freeholder, requested by the seller's solicitor ↗

The government's step-by-step buying guide.

When: Before you start.

Get it from: GOV.UK ↗

The tax return for your purchase.

When: Within 14 days of completion.

Get it from: Usually filed by your solicitor; HMRC (England) or the Welsh Revenue Authority ↗

Title, searches, special conditions and fees for an auction lot.

When: Before bidding.

Get it from: The auction house's website for each lot ↗

The government checklist landlords must give tenants.

When: At the start of every tenancy.

Get it from: GOV.UK ↗

Proof the deposit is in a government-backed scheme.

When: Within 30 days of receiving a deposit.

Get it from: DPS, mydeposits or TDS ↗

Checking a tenant's right to live in the UK.

When: Before each new tenancy in England.

Get it from: GOV.UK (including the online checking service) ↗

The form to propose a new rent.

When: Raising rent (at most once a year).

Get it from: GOV.UK forms; use Plotlumen's rent increase checker first ↗

A council licence to let certain properties.

When: HMOs and some areas; check before letting.

Get it from: Your local council (find it via GOV.UK) ↗

Landlord registration and licensing in Wales.

When: Before letting in Wales.

Get it from: Rent Smart Wales ↗

A company's officers, filings and charges (for example a seller or freeholder company).

When: Dealing with a company landlord, freeholder or seller.

Get it from: Companies House (also searchable in Plotlumen) ↗

How to report rental income to HMRC.

When: Every tax year if you let property.

Get it from: GOV.UK; Plotlumen's income and costs download helps your accountant ↗

Reporting and paying tax when you sell a property that isn't your home.

When: Within 60 days of completing a sale.

Get it from: GOV.UK ↗