Unsold belongings should generally be removed before completion when the property is being sold with vacant possession. Furniture and fixtures included in the sale price should instead be handed over and listed in the formal agreement. The cited guidance does not establish a right to store unsold belongings, so storage should not be assumed.
How to check which treatment applies
The Estate Agents Authority states that the seller generally delivers vacant possession upon completion unless the property is sold with a tenancy. For a sale requiring vacant possession, belongings left at the property but not included in the agreed sale would ordinarily be removed before completion.
| Belongings | General treatment |
|---|---|
| Items not included in the sale | Remove before completion when vacant possession is required |
| Furniture or fixtures included in the sale price | Hand over and ensure they are listed in the formal agreement |
| Unsold items intended to remain in storage | Do not assume this is permitted; the cited guidance does not address a separate storage arrangement |
Why the formal agreement matters
The formal agreement is the starting point for identifying what the purchaser is entitled to receive. Furniture and fixtures included in the sale price should be listed so that the handover can be matched against the agreed sale.
If the property is sold with a tenancy, the general vacant-possession position does not apply in the same way. The sale should therefore be checked to confirm whether a tenancy is part of the transaction and what possession arrangements apply.
What still needs confirmation
The cited guidance does not set out a storage entitlement, a standard storage period, a removal deadline or a procedure for disposing of unsold items. It also does not say that every item left at the property may be stored after completion.
Before completion, the seller should confirm the contents of the formal agreement and separately verify any proposed arrangement for storing or late removal of unsold belongings. Without that confirmation, leaving items on the property should not be treated as an agreed handover or storage arrangement.