New two-form approach revealed after TA6 consultation

News:

The Law Society of England and Wales has announced a new two-form approach following an extensive consultation about the TA6 forms used in property transactions.

There will now be two separate forms*:

• A new 6th edition TA6 property form which is mandatory for Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) members from March 2026 and is designed to be used when an offer has been accepted. It will give buyers the information that the sellers have about the property before they commit to buying. This will be an improved version of the 4th Edition.

• A material information form, which is not mandatory for CQS members and is designed for conveyancers to use if they choose to accept instructions by sellers before they list their property. It aims to help sellers gather the material information they are recommended to provide to the estate agent to market the property.

The change comes after some members raised concerns about last year’s release of the 5th edition TA6 form. The 5th edition was developed to include new material information guidance introduced by the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT).

Mandatory use of the 5th Edition form was postponed while we launched a comprehensive consultation with members, led by independent research agency 2CV Ltd.

Law Society vice president Mark Evans said: “We have learnt a lot through the consultation process, about both the TA6 form and the wider member concerns about the complexities of the conveyancing market.

“We heard from more than 1,200 participants – the vast majority solicitors, as well as licensed conveyancers, estate agents and sellers – who shared their detailed experiences of using the 5th edition form. Thanks to everyone who gave up time to take part and share their views.

“We have listened to the feedback and following the predominant message in the responses decided the best solution is to replace the 5th edition of the TA6 form with two new forms, one mandatory and one not.

“We hope that this new approach will make the TA6 process more straightforward and easier to understand and navigate for conveyancers and their clients.

“We appreciate that this is a difficult month for our members who are under intense pressure with a stamp duty tax deadline looming and we can assure you that there will not be any overnight changes to the existing 4th and 5th edition forms.”

Appreciating the wider complexities of conveyancing and that conveyancers need time to adapt to change, the Law Society will:

• From Summer, run user testing with conveyancers and sellers and buyers to make certain the forms are fit for purpose and to understand which areas of the form require most support to fill in.

• Have an extended implementation period for the new forms, beginning in October 2025 before compulsory adoption of the new forms in March 2026.

• Provide information and training for conveyancers and their clients.

• Consult members on proposed amendments to the National Conveyancing Protocol.

Notes to editors

• See the independent consultation report here and the Law Society commentary here.

• * A working group of residential conveyancers, from a variety of types of firms, has been meeting weekly for several months to analyse in depth the consultation responses and devise the new forms.