The BASPI is a “single source of truth dataset” designed to include all information needed on a property when it is put on the market for sale.
It is separated into two parts; Part A includes the disclosure of material facts required by regulations, while Part B covers additional information required for the legal process.
Part A required information regarding disputes and complaints, alterations and changes, notices, specialist issues, fixtures and fittings, utilities and services, insurance, boundaries, rights and informal arrangements, and any other issues affecting the property.
Part B covers legal ownership, legal boundaries, services crossing other property, energy, guarantees, warranties and indemnity insurances, occupiers, and completion and moving.
The updated BASPI covers additional information request such as freehold shares, details of any reserve fund and any annual contributions, whether the property is within the ULEZ area in London, how many storeys in the building, and whether it includes any commercial property.
There are specific questions relating to title defect insurance policies on the property, if it is within an area of unrestricted mobile phone coverage, whether there are any air/water or ground source heat pumps, whether any known risk of coastal erosion affects the property or its boundary, and if there is any step-free access from the street or throughout the property.
‘A number of amendments’ made
Beth Rudolf (pictured), director of delivery at the Conveyancing Association (CA), said: “Each year, via the steering group of the HBSG, the CA co-ordinates a fundamental and complete review of the content of the BASPI, to ensure it is as up to date as possible, that we are covering off all information requests we should be in today’s property market, and that it contains to be fit for purpose for all those who use, and rely, upon it.
“I’m pleased to say that, following this review, we have been able to update and include a number of amendments within Part A of the BASPI. This is hugely important, as it helps identify the material information relevant to the property that the seller is aware of.
“Of course, the title and authority information will need to be reviewed by the conveyancing firm as part of the due diligence process to identify the relevant information via the local, water, mining (where relevant) and environmental authorities.”
She continued: “Our freely available BASPI Schema allows all the amendments to this version of the BASPI to be seen on the webforms, while there is also a new PDF, kindly put together by Advanced Legal, with form fields to enable those with accessibility issues, which also includes all the questions.
“We, at the CA, would also like to draw attention to the recently announced governmental inquiry from the Levelling Up committee on ‘Improving the homebuying and selling process’, which will provide a further opportunity to feed conveyancing firms’ views in order to deliver the outcomes we believe will be most beneficial for our industry and our clients.
“The CA will be providing its own written response, and we are open to feedback from members, and would also encourage them to respond to the inquiry directly.”
