Don’t forget your toothbrush holder: the TA10 form explained

There are a multitude of acronyms and abbreviations to get your head around when buying or selling a property. Something you may see in your pile of paperwork are forms with the letters TA at the start.

The TA stands for transaction and these letters come in the form of templates drafted by The Law Society. They are sent out by conveyancing solicitors and estate agents to those involved in the moving process, and one form that every seller will be asked to complete is a TA10.

More commonly known as a ‘fittings and fixtures’ or ‘fittings and contents’ form, a TA10 is completed by the seller so they can clearly identify what’s included in the sale and what is going to be removed. 

A TA10 form is largely a tick-box exercise. Once you have filled in details about yourself, your solicitor and your property’s location, the most common fittings are presented as a list with boxes by their side. The seller simply ticks ‘included’ if it’s being left at the property, ‘excluded’ if it’s being taken with them and ‘none’ if the item listed is not relevant to their property. 

It’s completely natural to think of fittings and contents as items such as integrated storage, kitchen appliances and built-in furniture. When it comes to a TA10 form, however, even the smallest and sometimes most unconventional of details needs consideration. Be prepared to weigh up whether you’re going to leave your toothbrush holder, loft insulation, dustbins and even your doorbell. Yes, these are all listed on The Law Society’s TA10 template form.

The latter item – the humble doorbell – is actually part of a wider conversation within conveyancing. The Law Society is currently holding a consultation with solicitors on the matter of smart products and connected appliances – items that are increasingly being fitted to homes. These can include smart doorbells, wifi-enabled CCTV and app-controlled central heating systems.

The current TA10 template doesn’t have a smart device section and this may not appear until after The Law Society’s consultation ends on 28th February 2022. Until changes are made, sellers should use the ‘other items’ section at the end of the TA10 form to list any smart devices, being clear on what’s being taken and what is being left. If it’s the latter, the seller should detail how the new occupant can access the service and take over any subscriptions. 

There are also boxes for ‘price’ and ‘comments’ against each item on the TA10 form. It is here where a seller can let the buyer know what items are for sale, for how much and if there are any related notes. 

Negotiations to purchase items are usually conducted between the buyer and seller directly, or we can mediate, if that’s preferred. It is sometimes possible for the solicitors to negotiate the sale of any items but there may be an additional charge for this service. If a price is agreed and an item is to be bought, both solicitors need informing.

As with all paperwork relating to a property sale or purchase, speed is of the essence if you want to complete without delays. If you are a seller, fill out and return your TA10 form to your solicitor promptly. If you are the buyer, ensure you read through the form upon receipt, flagging up any questions and requests to purchase as soon as you can. We’re here to offer guidance, so get in touch with any TA10 form questions.