What do buyers need to know — and what do we have to disclose?

Executors are not expected to know everything about the property in the way an owner-occupier might. Buyers generally understand that. What matters is honesty. If there are issues known to the estate — for example…

Executors are not expected to know everything about the property in the way an owner-occupier might. Buyers generally understand that. What matters is honesty.

If there are issues known to the estate — for example structural movement, leaks, title problems, neighbour disputes, service charge arrears or missing documents — those should not be buried. Equally, an executor should not guess or answer beyond their knowledge.

The right approach is straightforward: disclose what is known, make clear what is not known, and answer enquiries carefully rather than casually.

Related reading

• How to sell a probate property: a clear step-by-step guide for executors and familiesHow to sell a probate property: a clear step-by-step guide for executors and families/probate-guides/how-to-sell-a-probate-property/
• Missing deeds, unregistered title and other title problems that can slow a probate saleMissing deeds, unregistered title and other title problems that can slow a probate sale/probate-guides/missing-deeds-unregistered-title-probate/
• The probate property documents checklist: what to gather early to prevent delay laterThe probate property documents checklist: what to gather early to prevent delay later/probate-guides/probate-property-documents-checklist/
• What if the title deeds are missing?What if the title deeds are missing?/knowledge-hub/what-if-title-deeds-are-missing/
• What if the property was never registered with Land Registry?What if the property was never registered with Land Registry?/knowledge-hub/what-if-a-probate-property-is-unregistered/
• What happens if the property was jointly owned?What happens if the property was jointly owned?/knowledge-hub/what-happens-if-a-probate-property-was-jointly-owned/