Buying a House Checklist for England and Wales

Offer accepted: what happens next

You will need identity checks, draft contract papers, and a plan for searches and survey. Keep a single thread with your solicitor so enquiries do not scatter across email chains.

Title and tenure

Read the register extract for ownership, boundaries (on the title plan), and charges. Leaseholders should add lease length, ground rent, service charges, and major works history.

Searches

Local authority, environmental, drainage and water, and other searches answer different questions than a survey. Your solicitor orders the pack; you can still read summaries and ask questions early.

Survey choices

Condition surveys are not searches. Choose a level that matches the property age and complexity. New builds still benefit from snagging discipline.

Money and insurance

Confirm deposit path, mortgage offer conditions, and buildings insurance start dates your lender expects.

Documents at the address

Owners can use a Property Passport to hold guarantees, certificates, and correspondence so Buyers inherit context, not just empty folders.

Next steps on Property Passport UK

Run the address through [Property Search](/search), then explore the [Property Guides library](/guides). When you own or manage the home, [claim your Property Passport](/claim/start) and add Documents with dates and sources so permitted Stakeholders see a single coherent record.