Leaseholders selling a property face new requirements to declare if there any building safety risks.

The changes will ensure buyers are made aware of any safety issues, and it may help them secure a mortgage, the Law Society says.

Updated property information forms have now been issued by the Law Society of England and Wales.

There are new versions of the TA7 leasehold information form and TA13 completion information and undertakings form.

An updated version of the LPE1 leasehold property enquiries form has also been launched.

Lubna Shuja, president of the Law Society, says: “The LPE1 and TA7 forms have been amended as part of efforts to ensure that those who want to buy or re-mortgage flats affected by building safety issues can access mortgage finance.

“We are happy to play our part in helping to accommodate this aim. We have also taken the opportunity to make some process improvements to our TA13 form.”

Building defects

The revised TA7 form now includes a question asking if the seller knows about defects that create a building safety risk, and new questions about the ownership and management of the building.

The new TA13 form includes arrangements to be made for the seller to hand over not just keys, but also any equivalent electronic devices, passcodes and alarm codes.

It also requires confirmation that a copy of the executed transfer is attached or will be supplied before completion, and a client firm’s reference to be included with the bank details.

And the LPE1 features several additional questions including whether the Leaseholder Deed of Certificate has been served on the landlord in relation to the sale of the property or remedial works required to the property; as well as whether a Landlord’s Certificate has been served, and whether there is any outstanding enforcement action.