The TA6 form in 2026: what the Law Society's wording change means for sellers
The updated TA6 Property Information Form asks sellers a more nuanced set of questions about Japanese knotweed — here is how to answer them correctly.
The TA6 fifth edition, in active use across England and Wales in 2026, has refined the knotweed question to push sellers towards documented evidence rather than a guess. The change is small but the practical consequences are significant.
The new question
Sellers must now indicate whether the property has been checked for Japanese knotweed by a professional. If yes, the management category from the survey should be disclosed. If no, the seller must answer to the best of their knowledge — and conveyancers are now routinely advising buyers to commission their own survey where this is the response.
How to answer in 2026
- "Yes — category A, no treatment required": include the survey and an evidence pack.
- "Yes — categories B, C or D with a management plan": include the plan and the IBG certificate.
- "Not known — no professional survey carried out": legally defensible but increasingly likely to trigger a buyer-side survey.
- "No" without survey evidence: high-risk for misrepresentation claims if the buyer later finds knotweed.
Practical advice
Commission a PCA-aligned survey before going to market. A clean category A or B report is a powerful marketing document. A category C or D with a costed plan and IBG is still mortgageable and removes nearly all buyer hesitation.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the new TA6 wording apply in Wales?
- Yes — the Law Society form is used in both jurisdictions, though some Welsh conveyancers add an equivalent question on bamboo.
- Will the IBG transfer to the buyer at completion in 2026?
- Yes — every IBG we issue is assignable to successive owners at no cost when ownership changes at completion.
Reviewed by
The survey team
PCA-certificated surveyors, Japanese Knotweed Elimination
PA1 / PA6A certificated surveyors who carry out the site visits, write the management plans and sign off the reports issued to lenders and solicitors.
Reviews the technical, legal and lender statements in this article.
What this page can't tell you
- Guidance is general. Identification, treatment choice and timescales can only be confirmed by a site visit — photographs alone are indicative.
- Lender and insurer requirements vary by institution and change over time. We state what is typically accepted, not what any named lender will accept on your case.
- Guarantee (IBG) eligibility depends on the plan chosen, the survey findings and the underwriter's acceptance. It is not automatic.
- Legal points summarise published law and guidance current at the review date. They are not legal advice.
Last reviewed · Questions on anything stated here: 07582 869979
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