Costs
Article template with draft demo copy. Louis to review and approve before publishing. General information, not legal advice.
An auction legal pack is the bundle of documents the seller’s side makes available before the sale. In a traditional auction, the fall of the hammer usually means you have exchanged contracts, so the pack is your main chance to understand what you’re buying before you’re committed.
The documents you’ll usually find
Packs vary, but many include:
- Title register and title plan from HM Land Registry
- The lease, if the property is leasehold
- Special conditions of sale, alongside the auctioneer’s general conditions
- Local authority and other searches
- Property information forms, and a leasehold management pack where relevant
- An EPC and any tenancy agreement
- An addendum, which may be issued close to the sale
Special conditions: where the costs hide
Hidden fees in the special conditions? This is often where you’ll find the buyer’s premium, administration fees, a contribution to the seller’s legal or search costs, completion timetables and any arrears the buyer is asked to pay. Add them up before you set a maximum bid.
Know the true all-in cost before you bid.
Our report pulls these figures into one table, each cited to its clause and page.
Title and lease
Check the class of title, any restrictions or notes on the register, and, for leasehold lots, the lease length, ground rent and service charge terms. If anything is unclear, it’s a point to raise with a solicitor before bidding.
Searches and property information
Searches can show planning history, enforcement and other local matters. Look at their dates, and note any works mentioned in the particulars that don’t have a matching consent or certificate in the pack.
What might be missing
It’s easy to miss what isn’t there: a building regulations certificate, a management pack, deposit protection evidence or an EWS1 form, for example. Make a list and ask the auctioneer.
Can’t make sense of pages of jargon?
Get a colour-coded report with a missing-documents list and questions to ask.
A short pre-bid checklist
- Re-read the pack and the addendum on auction day.
- Add up the fees in the special conditions.
- Check that your deposit and completion funds can be ready in time.
- Take advice from a solicitor on anything you’re unsure of.
- Get a survey if the bid depends on the condition of the property.
FAQs
Who prepares the auction legal pack?
The seller’s solicitor usually prepares it and the auctioneer publishes it. My Auction Pack does not prepare packs; we check them for buyers.
Can the legal pack change before the auction?
Yes. Addenda and extra documents can be added up to the day of the sale, so re-check the pack and the addendum on auction day.
Do I still need a solicitor if I read the pack myself?
We recommend you take advice from a solicitor before bidding, particularly on title, lease, tenancy or special conditions points. Reading the pack first helps you ask the right questions.
Is this article legal advice?
No. It is general information for buyers. It is not legal advice and does not cover every situation.
Free guide
Auction pack cautions: 12 things to check before you bid.
A short, plain-English checklist of things to look for in a seller’s legal pack, and the questions to take to your solicitor. General information, not legal advice.
Related guides
Leasehold