When selling a house: What do I have to tell the seller?

When selling a house, transparent and complete communication between buyer and seller is essential. There is certain information that the seller must pass on to the buyer in order to avoid legal and financial uncertainties. In this guide, Wienroth Immobilien GmbH & Co. AG from Jena gives you an overview of the information that is of great importance to the buyer and which documents you should have ready.

1. extract from the land register

The land register extract is one of the most important documents that you must present to the buyer. It contains important information such as

• Ownership structure:
  The buyer can check whether you are the legal owner of the property.
• Land charges or mortgages:
  These entries must be clarified and, if necessary, cancelled before the sale.
• Easements:
  These include rights of way, pipeline rights or other third-party rights of use that the buyer must be aware of.

2. energy certificate

Another mandatory component when selling a house is the energy performance certificate. This provides information about the energy status of the property. The energy performance certificate is required for both existing properties and new builds. There are two variants:

• Consumption certificate:
  This is based on the actual energy consumption of the house.
• Demand certificate:
  This is based on the theoretical energy requirement of the property, which is determined on the basis of building plans and technical data.

Important: The energy performance certificate must be presented to the buyer at the latest at the viewing.

3. building plans and floor plans

To give the buyer a complete picture of your property, you should provide construction plans and floor plans. These documents enable the buyer to better understand the room layout, building fabric and technical structure of the house. In addition, any conversions or extensions should be documented, authorised and correctly entered in the plans.

4. building permits and changes of use

If there have been structural alterations or changes of use in the past, these must be documented by corresponding building permits. This applies in particular to the addition of conservatories, garages or loft conversions. Unauthorised buildings can make the sale more difficult and may lead to problems with the building authorities.

5. defects and damage

One of the most important aspects of selling a house is the disclosure of defects and damage. As the seller, you are legally obliged to report any known defects in the property to the buyer. These include:

• Moisture damage or mould
• Problems with the heating system
• Leaking windows or roofs
• Cracks in walls or foundations

Transparency is important here: concealed defects can lead to legal disputes after the sale. Openness, on the other hand, strengthens the trust between buyer and seller.

6. ancillary costs and current contracts

As the seller, you should also provide the buyer with information about the ongoing ancillary costs of the property. This includes

• Costs for water, electricity, gas or heating
• Waste and sewage charges
• Insurance costs such as building insurance or household contents insurance

In addition, you must inform the buyer of any current contracts associated with the property. Examples include maintenance contracts for heating systems or rental contracts if the property is rented out.

7. property tax assessment

The property tax assessment informs the buyer of the annual taxes payable on the property. This notice shows the buyer what costs they can expect after the purchase.

8. maintenance and repair documents

You should also provide all documents relating to maintenance, repairs or renovations to the house. This can include, for example, receipts for

• Roof renovations
• Heating maintenance
• Renovations to windows or facades

These documents give the buyer the assurance that the property has been well maintained.

9. information on the neighbourhood and location

Although this is not a legal obligation, many buyers are also interested in information about the neighbourhood and location of the house. This involves topics such as:

• Noise pollution from roads or businesses
• Infrastructure (schools, supermarkets, public transport)
• Plans for development in the neighbourhood

Conclusion: transparency is the key when selling a house

The more transparent information you provide to the buyer, the smoother the sales process will be. As the seller, you must not only provide the buyer with the legally required documents, but also inform them about known defects and ongoing costs. A transparent and open approach creates trust and ensures a successful sale.