A completion statement is best understood as a seller-facing financial reconciliation associated with completing an agreed property sale. The cited Estate Agents Authority guidance does not define a standard form or prescribe a fixed set of contents. It does, however, identify three useful checks: the purchase price, the payment method, and receipts for relevant deposits and outgoings.
What should sellers check?
| Item | What the guidance confirms | Practical seller check |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | The formal agreement specifies the purchase price. | If the completion statement shows a price figure, compare it directly with the formal agreement. |
| Payment method | The formal agreement specifies how payment is to be made. | Check that the payment method recorded at completion matches the agreed method. |
| Deposits and outgoings | Receipts for relevant deposits and outgoings can support the apportionment account. | Match the relevant receipts to the related entries and retain them for review. |
These are comparison checks, not evidence that every sale uses the same statement format. The formal agreement remains the reference for the price and payment method, while the relevant receipts provide support for the amounts reflected in the apportionment account.
What should happen if something does not match?
A difference should not be accepted merely because it appears small or the final total seems reasonable. The seller can ask for the underlying agreement wording, receipt, or calculation to be identified and explained. Any unresolved difference should remain visible rather than being treated as agreed without supporting records.
This does not mean that every discrepancy proves an error. It means the seller should be able to connect the relevant figure with the document or receipt supporting it.
What still needs transaction-specific confirmation?
The cited guidance does not state:
- the required contents or format of a completion statement;
- who must prepare, issue, or sign it;
- when it must be issued;
- the complete calculation or list of deductions and outgoings;
- any fixed deadline or legal effect; or
- whether a recorded payment has been completed or cleared.
Those points should be confirmed for the individual sale rather than assumed from general practice. Sellers should also obtain transaction-specific confirmation of any figure or obligation not addressed in the formal agreement or supported by relevant receipts.