The pack is the legal description of what is being sold. It is assembled by the seller’s solicitor before bidding opens, so every bidder is working from the same information at the same time.
What it contains
- Title register and plan. Who owns it, what the boundaries are, and what rights and burdens run with the land.
- Searches. Local authority, drainage and environmental, depending on the property.
- Special conditions of sale. Anything departing from the standard conditions, including costs the buyer is expected to cover.
- Leasehold information. For leasehold lots: the lease, ground rent, service charge history and the managing agent’s replies.
- Energy performance certificate.
What it does not contain
It is not a survey. Nothing in the pack tells you about the roof, the damp or the wiring. If the condition of the building matters to your figure, commission your own inspection during the marketing period.
Read the special conditions first
This is where costs appear that are not in the guide price — the seller’s legal fees, a contribution to search costs, an overage clause. They are disclosed, but they are disclosed here rather than on the listing, and a bidder who has not read them is bidding on the wrong number.
Getting the pack
Packs are available from the lot’s page in the catalogue while bidding is open. If a pack is incomplete, ask before you bid rather than assuming the missing part is routine.