FURTHER EXPLANATION · 2 MIN READ
Why gathering documents early pays off
A new official information sheet for sellers was published on 14 October 2026. It shows how much information a notary's office may need to prepare a sale correctly from a legal perspective. The list is not an identical requirement for every property. The type of property, location, region, co-ownership, and use determine which documents and checks are actually needed.
Start before finding a buyer or immediately afterwards. Provide your identity, contact details, account number, and information about your civil status. Also state whether the property is rented or leased for agricultural use, which rent applies, and whether other rights of use exist. An incomplete answer can later cause additional searches, questions, or delays.
Certificates and the property's history
The information sheet mentions the EPC, electrical inspection, asbestos inventory certificate and, where relevant, details of a heating-oil tank. If work affecting stability or safety was carried out after 1 May 2001, the post-intervention file may also be important. Keep permits, notifications, and information about possible planning breaches, enforcement claims, soil contamination, vacancy, heritage status, or pre-emption rights as well.
For an apartment, co-ownership is also part of the file. The notary generally needs the base deed, the property manager's details, and information about decided or expected works and costs. This allows the buyer to understand the charges connected with the apartment in good time.
Make the financial arrangements precise too
Certificates are not the only concern. Record the amount of the deposit, when it will be paid, and when possession and the keys transfer. Also discuss whether the seller will remain in the home after the deed, whether compensation applies, and whether movable goods are included in the sale. Any financing condition precedent needs a clear time limit and effect.
Suppose a seller wants to remain in the home for another two weeks while the buyer already becomes the owner. Without clear agreements, questions may arise about compensation, insurance, risk, meter readings, and the actual key handover. The solution is not a separate oral agreement but a clause that fits the complete sale file.
How Notariaat Wellens helps
Notariaat Wellens can systematically bring together the title deed, certificates, tenancy documents, planning information, and agreements. The office can identify missing information, include particulars in the sale agreement, and coordinate with the buyer, seller, estate agent, property manager, or expert.
Bring the checklist to an initial meeting and report uncertainties honestly, even if you are unsure whether older work was permitted. Early transparency makes it easier to request targeted evidence and formulate the conditions of sale correctly. The deed is then prepared on the basis of the property's actual legal and factual position.