Documents
✓ Tell your solicitor about any extensions or alterations early in the process so you can identify the documents you need to share. This includes:
- Details of any building work done such as extensions.
- Copies of planning permissions and opinions, particularly for any works completed to the property after you purchased it.
- Details of any known or potential planning issues. Has your local authority written to you for any reason?
- Evidence of compliance with planning permissions and building regulations. These will be prepared by your architect, building surveyor, engineer or other qualified professions, if required.
- Certificate of Exemption for an extension below the size threshold to require planning permission. This can be supplied by an architect or other qualified professionals, if required.
✓ Valid Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate and BER Advisory Report. These certificates are legally required if you are selling your property. If you don’t already have a valid BER Certificate, you can arrange for an assessment to be carried out and for a certificate to be issued. A list of registered BER Assessors can be found on the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s website at www.seai.ie/home-energy/ building-energy-rating-ber
✓ Evidence of septic tank (or other domestic wastewater treatment system) registration, if you have one. This is available at www.protectourwater.ie.
✓ Planning search. This can be arranged through your solicitor or architect, building surveyor, engineer or other qualified professional. This will produce details of any planning applications, permissions, notices, and other important information relating to your property.
✓ Evidence of payment of Local Property Tax (LPT), in the correct band, to the end of the year you are selling your property.
- If you pay the LPT monthly, you will need to pay the full amount up to the end of the year you are selling the property.
- If the sale of your property closes after 1 November, you will also have to pay the LPT for the following year.
- Evidence of payment is available at www.revenue.ie. You will need your property ID number and PIN to request this.
✓ Confirmation from Uisce Éireann that services such as connection to the water supply are in place and are being managed by Uisce Éireann.
✓ Confirmation from your local authority that they are responsible for the maintenance of the roads in your estate (i.e. the roads have been ‘taken in charge’).
✓ Certificate of Exemption or Discharge for Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR). These certificates are available from your local authority. If you’re unsure, your solicitor can explain this.
- If you didn’t live in the property as your main residence in 2013, you will need a Certificate of Discharge to prove you have paid the charge.
- If you did live in the property in 2013, you will need a Certificate of Exemption.
- If the property was uninhabitable during those years, you might need a Certificate of Waiver.
✓ Evidence that the Household Charge has been paid. This was an annual charge introduced in 2011, which was payable by owners of residential property only for the year 2012. Further details are available at www.householdcharge.ie.
Apartments and Multi Unit Developments
✓ Contact details for the management company or managing agents.
✓ Your solicitor will likely send Pre-Contract MUDs Requisitions or Non-MUDs Requisitions to the management company seeking information regarding claims, sinking funds, management charges etc. Your management company will charge you a fee for this service.
✓ Receipts to show that the service charge has been paid up to date including for the current service charge year. If service charges haven’t been paid up to date, you may experience delays.
✓ Confirmation of sinking fund from your management company. This is like a savings account set up to pay for possible future repairs or works to common areas.
✓ Confirmation that a parking space is included with the house or apartment, if this is the case.
Letting & Tenancies
✓ A copy of the letting agreement or lease. A tenancy needs to be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Without this registration, the sale process will be delayed.
✓ A copy of the termination of tenancy notice. Keep this on file in case it is needed at any stage.
✓ Confirmation that there are no ongoing disputes with the RTB in relation to current or former tenants.
✓ Confirmation of whether the property is located in a Rent Pressure Zone or not, and information on the last rent review, the rent payable, and the date the rent was last set. A Rent Pressure Zone is a designated area where rent increases are capped.
You will need to get the following
1. Details of where your title documents are (if your title deeds are with a bank, provide the name of the bank and the account number),
2. Local Property Tax printout showing local property tax paid to current year end (www.revenue.ie),
3. Receipt or Certificate of Discharge showing that the Household Charge has been discharged (www.householdcharge.ie) (if payable),
4. Certificate of Exemption or Discharge for NPPR (applied from 2009 to 2013) (www.nppr.ie),
5. Details of your water and drainage supply,
6. If you have a septic tank on the property, evidence of its registration (www.protectourwater.ie),
7. If you are or ever have been married, a copy of your state marriage or civil partnership certificate (and copy separation agreement or divorce, if applicable),
8. BER Certificate showing the energy rating on your home,
9. Details of any building work you have done with copies of any planning permissions and architects’ certificates of compliance,
10. If your property is in a managed development, contact details for the management company/managing agents, and receipts for service charges,
11. If the property is let, copy letting agreement,
12. Details of any contents included in sale,
13. PPS Number(s) – needed for proof of identity,
14. Photographic identification such as passport(s),
15. Utility bill / bank statement (within the last 3 months) to prove your address.