TA6 Form Guide: Property Information Form Explained Section by Section

The Law Society's TA6 Property Information Form is completed by every seller in England and Wales, and misrepresentations on this form lead to an estimated 2,000+ legal claims per year according to property litigation specialists. At HouseCheckup, our £24.99 property reports let buyers independently verify many of the claims made on the TA6 — from flood risk and planning history to boundary information — providing an essential cross-reference before you commit. This guide explains every section of the TA6 so you know exactly what to look for.

What Is the TA6 Form?

The TA6 Property Information Form is a standardised questionnaire completed by the seller (or their solicitor) as part of the conveyancing process. It covers essential information about the property that a buyer needs to know. The current version (TA6, 6th edition) was published by the Law Society and is used in virtually every residential property transaction in England and Wales.

The seller is legally obligated to answer honestly. Deliberate misrepresentation or concealment can result in the buyer having grounds to rescind the contract or claim damages after completion.

Section 1: Boundaries

This section asks the seller to identify which boundaries they believe they own or are responsible for maintaining. Key questions include:

• Who owns each boundary fence, wall, or hedge?
• Has there been any boundary dispute?
• Has the boundary position ever been altered?

Red flags: Answers of "not known" to boundary ownership (which is common but worth investigating), any disclosed disputes, or evidence that boundaries on the ground don't match the title plan. Ask your solicitor to check the title plan against the physical boundaries during the survey.

Section 2: Disputes and Complaints

The seller must disclose any disputes with neighbours or other parties, including:

• Current or past disputes about the property
• Complaints made to or received from neighbours
• Complaints to or from the local authority
• Any anti-social behaviour issues in the area

Red flags: Any disclosed disputes, particularly ongoing ones. Even "resolved" disputes can indicate problematic neighbours. If the seller mentions noise complaints, investigate the source yourself. Visit the property at different times of day and on weekends.

Section 3: Notices and Proposals

This covers any notices received from government bodies or authorities, including:

• Planning or building control notices
• Environmental notices
• Compulsory purchase orders
• Road schemes or railway proposals
• Notices from utility companies about works

Red flags: Any notice that could affect the property's value or your enjoyment of it. Proposed road schemes, new developments nearby, or environmental contamination notices are particularly important. Cross-reference with a HouseCheckup report and local authority planning records.

Section 4: Alterations, Planning, and Building Control

This is one of the most critical sections. The seller must disclose:

• All alterations and additions made to the property
• Whether planning permission was obtained
• Whether building control approval was obtained
• Whether a completion certificate was issued

Red flags: Alterations without planning permission (potential enforcement action for 4-10 years depending on type), structural work without building control sign-off (insurance implications), and missing completion certificates. Loft conversions, extensions, and garage conversions without proper approvals are extremely common issues.

Common TA6 Section 4 Problems

• Loft conversion without building regs: Fire safety, structural integrity, and insulation may not meet standards
• Removed chimney breast without building regs: Potential structural concern if support is inadequate
• Extension without planning: May need retrospective permission or face enforcement
• Electrical or gas work without certificates: Safety and insurance implications

Section 5: Guarantees and Warranties

The seller should disclose any guarantees or warranties relating to:

• New home warranties (NHBC, Premier Guarantee, etc.)
• Damp-proofing guarantees
• Window and door installation guarantees
• Roofing work guarantees
• Timber treatment guarantees
• Electrical work certificates

Red flags: Work that should have guarantees but doesn't (e.g., a 3-year-old extension with no NHBC or architect's certificate), expired guarantees for critical work, or guarantees from companies that no longer exist. Check whether guarantees are transferable to new owners.

Section 6: Insurance

This section covers the property's insurance history:

• Current insurance details
• Any claims made in the last five years
• Any insurance claims refused
• Whether insurance has ever been cancelled or special terms imposed

Red flags: Subsidence claims (even if resolved, they make future insurance expensive), flood claims, refused claims (suggests the property has issues insurers won't cover), and any special terms or exclusions on the current policy. Always get your own insurance quote before exchange.

Section 7: Environmental Matters

The seller must disclose:

• Whether the property has ever been flooded
• Whether the property is at risk of flooding
• Whether there have been issues with Japanese knotweed or other invasive plants
• Whether the property has been affected by radon
• Any environmental contamination

Red flags: Any flooding history (even minor), Japanese knotweed treatment (check for management plans), radon levels above the action level, and proximity to contaminated land. Cross-reference these answers with independent data sources — a HouseCheckup report covers flood risk, radon risk, and environmental factors.

Section 8: Rights and Informal Arrangements

This covers:

• Rights of way over the property
• Shared access arrangements
• Informal arrangements with neighbours (e.g., shared maintenance of a driveway)
• Rights others have over the property

Red flags: Public rights of way through the garden, shared access that could cause disputes, and informal arrangements that haven't been formalised (they may not be binding on you as a new owner).

Section 9: Parking

A deceptively important section covering:

• Where vehicles are normally parked
• Whether parking arrangements are formal or informal
• Whether there have been parking disputes

Red flags: Informal parking arrangements (e.g., "we park on the neighbour's land by agreement" — this agreement may not continue), permit parking zones, and any parking disputes. In urban areas, inadequate parking can significantly affect both property value and daily life.

Section 10: Other Charges

This section asks about financial charges on the property:

• Rent charges
• Estate maintenance charges
• Service charges (for freehold estates as well as leasehold)

Red flags: High or escalating service/maintenance charges, management company issues, and any charges that weren't mentioned in the estate agent particulars. For properties on managed estates, request three years of accounts from the management company.

Section 13: Occupiers

This section asks who lives in the property and whether they will vacate before completion. All occupiers over 17 must be identified because they may have legal rights to remain in the property.

Red flags: Occupiers who are not named on the title (they may have beneficial interests), tenants with ongoing tenancies, and any uncertainty about whether occupiers will leave. Your solicitor should ensure all occupiers sign the contract to confirm they'll vacate.

Section 14: Transaction Information

Covers the practicalities of the sale:

• Why the seller is selling
• How long they've owned the property
• Whether they've received other offers
• Whether the sale depends on finding another property

Red flags: Very short ownership periods (could suggest the property has hidden problems), sellers who haven't found their onward purchase (chain risk), and vague reasons for selling that might conceal issues.

How to Cross-Reference the TA6

Don't take the TA6 answers at face value. Verify independently:

1. Planning history — Check the local authority planning portal for applications matching any declared works
2. Building control records — Request completion certificates for any structural work
3. Flood history — Compare the seller's answers with Environment Agency records and professional reports
4. Insurance claims — Consider that undisclosed claims may show up on the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) database
5. Neighbours — Knock on doors and ask about the area, disputes, and any issues

Verify Before You Commit

A HouseCheckup report for £24.99 (Complete tier) gives you independent data to cross-reference against the TA6, covering flood risk, subsidence, planning applications, environmental factors, EPC data, and much more. When a seller ticks "no" on flood risk or "not aware" on environmental issues, having independent verification from multiple data sources gives you confidence — or reveals discrepancies worth investigating further. Don't rely solely on the seller's word when £24.99 can give you the facts.