If you are buying or selling a home in Hull or East Yorkshire, understanding what a contract pack is and what it contains can make the whole process feel far less daunting.
The basics: what a contract pack actually is
A contract pack is a bundle of legal documents that the seller's solicitors prepare and send to the buyer's solicitors early in the conveyancing process. Think of it as the seller's way of formally introducing the property to the buyer's legal team. It brings together everything we need to examine the property's legal title, understand what is included in the sale, and begin drafting a contract both sides can eventually sign.
When clients ask us what is a contract pack when buying a house, we always explain that it is not a single document but a collection of several important pieces of paperwork, each serving a specific purpose. Getting this pack is one of the first significant milestones after an offer is accepted, and it signals that the conveyancing process is properly under way.
What the pack contains
While every transaction is slightly different, a standard contract pack usually includes the following main documents.
- The draft contract. This is the document that will eventually be signed by both the buyer and the seller to legally commit them to the sale. At this stage it is a draft, meaning it may still need amendments before everyone is happy to proceed. It sets out the agreed price, the property address, the completion date (once agreed) and the key terms of the sale.
- Title documents. These prove that the seller actually owns the property and has the legal right to sell it. For most properties in England and Wales, this means official copies of the register held at HM Land Registry. For older or more unusual properties, there may also be original paper title deeds. We examine these carefully to check for anything that could affect your ownership, such as restrictions, covenants or charges registered against the property.
- Property information forms. The seller completes standardised forms giving detailed information about the property. The main ones are the Property Information Form (sometimes called TA6) and the Fittings and Contents Form (TA10). The TA6 covers matters such as boundaries, disputes, planning history, building works and services. The TA10 confirms exactly what the seller is leaving behind and what they are taking with them, from fitted kitchen appliances to curtain poles.
If the property is leasehold, the pack will also include a copy of the lease itself, the Leasehold Information Form (TA7), and the managing agent's or freeholder's replies on form LPE1, which cover service charges, buildings insurance and the management of the building. Leasehold packs tend to be considerably thicker and take longer to work through, which is worth bearing in mind if you are buying a flat in Hull city centre or one of the many converted properties across East Yorkshire.
When does the contract pack arrive?
The seller's solicitors are responsible for putting the pack together and sending it across once they have been instructed. In our experience, this usually happens within a few weeks of the sale being agreed, though it can take a little longer if the seller has only just instructed their own solicitors, or if the title documents need to be ordered from HM Land Registry.
The arrival of the contract pack does not mean you are close to exchanging contracts. It is simply the starting point for our detailed legal review. After we receive it, there is still a good deal of work to do on both sides before exchange becomes possible.
What our team checks and prepares for you
Once the contract pack lands with us, our conveyancing team gets to work. We do not simply pass the documents on to you unread. We work through the pack thoroughly so that we can give you a clear and honest picture of what it contains.
Some of the key things we look at include:
- Whether the seller's title is clean and free from unexpected restrictions or burdens that could affect how you use the property.
- Whether any covenants (legal obligations tied to the land) are relevant to your plans for the property.
- Whether any charges or mortgages registered against the property will be properly removed before or on completion.
- Whether the property information forms raise any concerns, for example about past disputes with neighbours, unapproved building works or planning matters that have not been resolved.
- Whether the fixtures and fittings list matches what you agreed when you made your offer.
We will then raise formal enquiries with the seller's solicitors about anything that needs clarification. This back-and-forth process is entirely normal and is one of the ways we protect your interests. We also apply for your searches at around the same time, so that the results come back while we are waiting for answers to our enquiries.
If you are selling rather than buying, our team prepares and sends out the contract pack on your behalf. We will guide you through completing the property information forms accurately, gather your title documents and draft the contract, making sure everything is in order before it goes to the buyer's solicitors.
How we work with you through the process
We know that conveyancing can feel like a lot of waiting punctuated by moments where things happen very quickly. Our approach is to keep you informed at every stage so you are never left wondering what is happening or what comes next.
When we receive the contract pack, we will let you know. When we have worked through it and have questions or concerns to raise with you, we will explain them in plain English rather than legal jargon. If anything in the pack needs further investigation, we will tell you why and what we are doing about it.
We act for buyers and sellers across Hull, Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield, Goole, Hornsea, Market Weighton, Pocklington, Withernsea and throughout the wider East Yorkshire area. Whether you are a first-time buyer trying to make sense of a lease pack, or an experienced landlord selling an investment property, our team is here to handle the legal detail on your behalf.
If you are ready to get started, or if you simply have a question about where you are in your transaction, please do get in touch with us. You can call our Hull office on 01482 228808. We are always happy to talk things through with you.
Our local conveyancing teams: conveyancing solicitors in Hull, Bridlington, Hornsea and Beverley.