TA6 6th Edition vs 5th Edition: What Changed and What Sellers Need to Know

The TA6 Property Information Form is the standard questionnaire completed by sellers in virtually every residential property transaction in England and Wales. Published by the Law Society, it has been through several editions since its introduction, with each revision reflecting changes in property law, conveyancing practice, and regulatory requirements.

The 5th edition has been in use since approximately 2020. On 30 March 2026, the 6th edition becomes mandatory for all new transactions. If you filled in the 5th edition before — perhaps for a sale that fell through, or because you are familiar with the form from a previous move — you need to understand what has changed and what you will need to do differently this time around.

This guide provides a detailed section-by-section comparison of the two editions, explains the rationale behind each change, and offers practical advice for sellers completing the 6th edition for the first time. For a broader overview of the 6th edition changes, see our guide on TA6 6th edition changes for 2026.

Why was the TA6 updated?

The Law Society updates the TA6 periodically to reflect developments in property law, consumer protection regulation, and conveyancing practice. The 6th edition was driven by three main factors:

1. National Trading Standards material information guidance. Since 2022, the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has issued guidance requiring estate agents to include specific material information in property listings. The 5th edition TA6 did not capture all of this information, creating a gap between what sellers disclosed on the form and what agents needed for compliant listings. The 6th edition closes that gap.
2. Building Safety Act 2022. The post-Grenfell building safety regime introduced new obligations around fire safety, cladding, and building safety certificates, particularly for higher-risk buildings. The 5th edition pre-dated much of this legislation and did not adequately address these matters.
3. Energy efficiency and environmental disclosure. Growing regulatory focus on energy performance, including the expansion of EPC requirements and upcoming minimum energy efficiency standards, meant the existing environmental questions needed updating to reflect current expectations.

Overview: key differences at a glance

Before examining each section in detail, here is a summary of the most significant changes between the two editions:

Section-by-section comparison

The following comparison covers every section of the TA6, highlighting where the 6th edition differs from the 5th. Sections that remain substantially unchanged are noted briefly. Sections with significant changes are examined in detail.

Section 1: Boundaries

Change level: minor. The core boundary questions remain the same — who owns each boundary, whether any boundaries have been repositioned, and whether there are any boundary disputes. The 6th edition adds a clarification prompt asking sellers to specify whether boundary information is based on the title deeds, physical inspection, or verbal understanding with neighbours. This is a small but useful addition that helps the buyer's solicitor assess the reliability of your answers.

Section 2: Disputes and complaints

Change level: moderate. The 5th edition asked whether there had been any disputes or complaints relating to the property or its use. The 6th edition retains this question but adds specific prompts about antisocial behaviour complaints, noise issues reported to the council, and disputes reported to any authority or ombudsman. These additions align with the material information requirements that estate agents must now include in property listings.

What sellers need to do differently: You should disclose any complaint or dispute that was reported to or involved a third party, even if it was resolved quickly and informally. The expanded prompts make it harder to overlook disputes that were previously easy to omit.

Section 3: Notices

Change level: moderate. The 5th edition asked about notices and proposals affecting the property. The 6th edition expands this by asking specifically about planning applications in the vicinity that you are aware of, proposed developments notified through consultations, and any notices from the local authority about road schemes, compulsory purchase, or environmental designations. Sellers are also asked about any correspondence from HS2 Ltd if the property is in an affected area.

Section 4: Alterations and building work

Change level: moderate. This section already covered building work comprehensively in the 5th edition. The 6th edition adds questions about whether an energy performance assessment was carried out after any alterations, and whether any work was subject to the requirements of the Building Safety Act 2022. It also asks specifically about retrospective building regulations applications and any indemnity insurance in place for work done without consent.

For guidance on how to complete this section, see our property information form tips.

Section 5: Rights and informal arrangements

Change level: minor. The questions about formal easements, rights of way, and informal arrangements remain substantially the same. The 6th edition adds a clearer prompt asking sellers to confirm whether any informal arrangements have been in place for 20 or more years, which is relevant to prescriptive easement claims under the Prescription Act 1832.

Section 6: Services and utilities

Change level: significant. This is one of the most notably expanded sections. The 5th edition asked basic questions about mains services (gas, electricity, water, drainage) and the council tax band. The 6th edition adds:

• Broadband connectivity: Type of broadband available (fibre, cable, ADSL), current provider, and approximate speed.
• Mobile phone signal: Whether the property has adequate indoor mobile coverage.
• Heating system: Type of heating (gas boiler, oil, heat pump, electric), age of the system, and when it was last serviced.
• Utility providers: Names of current gas, electricity, and water suppliers.

These additions directly reflect the National Trading Standards material information guidance, which requires estate agents to include broadband speed, mobile signal, and council tax information in property listings. By capturing this on the TA6, the form now serves as a source document for the agent's listing as well as the conveyancing transaction.

Section 7: Environmental matters

Change level: significant. The environmental section has been substantially restructured and expanded. In the 5th edition, environmental matters were covered in a relatively compact set of questions about flooding, contamination, Japanese knotweed, radon, and energy performance. The 6th edition breaks these out into distinct sub-sections:

What sellers need to do differently: If you completed the 5th edition before, you will notice significantly more questions in this section. Gather your EPC certificate, any flood risk correspondence, Japanese knotweed treatment records, and details of any insulation or energy improvement work before you start. The more detail you provide here, the fewer additional enquiries the buyer's solicitor will need to raise.

Section 8: Insurance and charges

Change level: minor to moderate. The insurance questions remain largely the same, covering buildings insurance, claims history, and any special terms. The 6th edition adds a specific question about whether flood insurance has been obtained through Flood Re (the government-backed flood insurance scheme) and whether the property is on a register of buildings with cladding concerns that affect insurance.

Section 9: Occupiers

Change level: minor. The questions about who occupies the property and whether any occupier has or will claim a right to remain are unchanged in substance. The 6th edition adds a minor clarification about whether the property is currently let or has been let within the past 12 months.

Section 10: Transaction information

Change level: minor. This section, which covers details about the sale itself (sale price, completion arrangements, connected transactions), remains substantially the same.

Section 11: Council tax

Change level: minor. The core council tax question is unchanged, but the 6th edition prompts sellers to confirm whether they have challenged the council tax banding and, if so, the outcome.

Section 12: Building safety (new in 6th edition)

Change level: new section. This is an entirely new addition in the 6th edition, reflecting the Building Safety Act 2022 and the post-Grenfell regulatory framework. The section asks about:

• Whether the building is classified as a higher-risk building (over 18 metres or 7 storeys)
• Whether an EWS1 (External Wall System) form has been obtained
• Cladding type and any remediation work completed or planned
• Whether a Building Safety Certificate has been issued
• Fire risk assessment status and any known fire safety deficiencies
• Whether the building is registered with the Building Safety Regulator

This section is most relevant to sellers of flats in multi-storey buildings, but the questions apply to all property types. If you are selling a standard house, most of these questions can be answered briefly. If you are selling a flat in a building with known cladding issues, this section requires careful and detailed answers.

Section 13: Material information (new in 6th edition)

Change level: new section. This is the other major addition in the 6th edition. It asks sellers to confirm key pieces of material information that estate agents are required to include in property listings under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the National Trading Standards guidance. Topics covered include:

• Tenure (freehold, leasehold, or other)
• Council tax band and annual amount
• Property construction type (standard or non-standard)
• Parking arrangements
• Any restrictions on use (covenants, planning conditions, agricultural ties)
• Known factors that might affect the enjoyment of the property (proximity to commercial premises, flight paths, planned developments)

The purpose of this section is to ensure that the information the seller provides to their solicitor matches what the estate agent includes in the property listing. This reduces the risk of the buyer discovering discrepancies between the marketing particulars and the legal information pack, which is a common cause of disputes and fall-throughs.

Section 14: Additional information

Change level: minor. The catch-all section at the end of the form, where sellers can add anything not covered elsewhere, remains in both editions. The 6th edition adds a prompt asking whether there is anything else that a reasonable buyer would want to know about the property, reinforcing the principle that sellers bear the risk of non-disclosure.

Practical comparison table: what to do differently

If you are familiar with the 5th edition, this table summarises the practical changes you will notice when completing the 6th edition:

What documents to gather before completing the 6th edition

The expanded scope of the 6th edition means you may need more documents to hand than you would have needed for the 5th edition. In addition to the documents you would normally gather (title deeds, planning permissions, building regulations certificates, warranties), you should also have:

• EPC certificate — for the energy efficiency section (you can find your current EPC at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate)
• Boiler service records — for heating system age and last service date
• Broadband provider and speed information —check your latest bill or run a speed test
• Flood risk correspondence — any letters from the Environment Agency, your insurer, or the local authority
• Japanese knotweed treatment records and guarantees — if treatment has been carried out
• EWS1 form or fire safety documentation —if selling a flat in a multi-storey building
• Details of any insulation or energy improvement work — including cavity wall, loft, and floor insulation
• Current utility provider names — for gas, electricity, and water

How the 6th edition reduces conveyancing delays

One of the main motivations behind the 6th edition is to reduce the volume of additional enquiries that buyer's solicitors raise during the conveyancing process. Under the 5th edition, many of the questions now included in the form had to be asked separately through rounds of pre-contract enquiries. Each round typically adds one to two weeks to the transaction timeline.

By capturing more information upfront, the 6th edition should mean fewer rounds of enquiries and faster progress from instruction to exchange. However, this only works if sellers take the time to answer the expanded questions thoroughly. A partially completed 6th edition will generate just as many enquiries as a partially completed 5th edition — if not more, because the buyer's solicitor will have even more blank fields to query.

For tips on avoiding the most common completion errors, see our guide on TA6 common mistakes sellers make.

Transitioning mid-sale: what if you started on the 5th edition?

If you instructed your solicitor before 30 March 2026 and have already completed a 5th edition TA6, the position depends on how far your transaction has progressed:

• Already exchanged contracts: No action needed. The 5th edition form that was relied upon at exchange remains valid.
• Draft contract pack already issued to buyer's solicitor: The buyer's solicitor may accept the 5th edition or may request a 6th edition form. Discuss with your solicitor whether switching is advisable to avoid potential objections.
• Not yet sent to buyer's solicitor: Your solicitor should use the 6th edition. Transfer your existing answers and complete the new questions.

In all cases, speak to your solicitor about the best approach for your specific circumstances. The key principle is that the form should be accurate and complete at the point of exchange, regardless of which edition is used.

Implications for the Law Society Protocol

The Law Society's Conveyancing Protocol, which is mandatory for all CQS-accredited firms, requires solicitors to use the current edition of all standard forms. From 30 March 2026, this means the 6th edition TA6 must be used for new transactions. Firms that continue to issue the 5th edition after the switchover date risk non-compliance with CQS requirements, which could affect their accreditation and their ability to act for lender clients.

For sellers, this means you should ensure your solicitor is using the correct edition. If you receive a 5th edition form after 30 March 2026, query it with your solicitor and ask for the updated version.

Sources

• Law Society of England and Wales — Property Information Form (TA6), 5th edition (2020) and 6th edition (2026)
• Law Society Conveyancing Protocol — lawsociety.org.uk
• National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team — Material Information in Property Listings guidance (2022)
• Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 — legislation.gov.uk
• Building Safety Act 2022 — legislation.gov.uk
• Gov.uk — Find an energy certificate: gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
• Flood Re — Government-backed flood insurance scheme: floodre.co.uk
• HM Land Registry — Search for property information: gov.uk/search-property-information-service

Frequently asked questions