Make safety the first decision
Do not enter an unsafe property or start repairs simply to prepare it for sale. Follow the emergency services and qualified professionals involved. A sale conversation does not replace a safety assessment. If the property is let, ask the appropriate advisers about responsibilities to the occupiers and any temporary arrangements.
Keep an insurance record
Contact the insurer and keep the claim reference, correspondence and agreed next steps together. Ask before disposing of damaged items or instructing work that may affect a claim. Record what is agreed, what remains disputed and which work is covered. A prospective sale does not settle an insurance claim.
Show the condition accurately
Keep dated photographs taken safely, professional reports, repair quotations and invoices. Separate damage you can observe from causes or structural conclusions that need a specialist. Explain what has been repaired and what remains unresolved. Do not describe the property as safe, mortgageable or fully restored without the evidence appropriate to that statement.
Discuss the sale with your advisers
Ask the conveyancer what information and documents they need, including the incident, any claim and outstanding work. Obtain suitable advice about value and the available sale routes. The condition, finance requirements and individual buyer can affect the process; no fixed sale time or price follows from this checklist.
Keep the first enquiry proportionate
For an initial L&M conversation, share the general area, broad condition and your priorities. Do not send insurance files, tenant details, identity documents or a full address through the public form. L&M’s sourcing service is waitlist only while AML supervision is pending; an enquiry does not reserve a buyer or appoint a sales service.
Put this into practice
Use the checklist below, then follow the relevant route when you are ready.
Request a property planPut it into practice
Your preparation checklist
Use these headings to organise your next steps. This is not a legal assessment or a complete compliance checklist.
| Topic | What to record |
|---|---|
| Safety | Who has assessed access and any unresolved concerns. |
| Insurance | Claim stage and agreed actions, with sensitive records kept privately. |
| Condition | Dated reports and the difference between completed and proposed work. |
| Sale questions | Conveyancer, valuation advice and unresolved matters. |
Invented example. Adapt it to your own situation.
Official sources
Sources checked 5 October 2026. Consult the current guidance and qualified advisers for your circumstances.
This is a practical preparation guide. Decisions about a particular property should be made with relevant qualified advisers and current information.