What is on a seller's completion statement?
A completion statement is the solicitor's account of the money on a sale. It starts with the price, adjusts for rent and service charge apportionments and transferred deposits, then deducts mortgage redemptions, fees and any retentions, showing exactly what the seller receives on completion day.
Read more in our guide: Fees and costs of selling
Example completion statement (single tenanted house)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | £200,000 |
| Less rent received for days after completion | (£450) |
| Less deposit transferred to buyer | (£1,200) |
| Less mortgage redemption | (£120,500) |
| Less agent and legal fees | (£3,400) |
| Balance to seller | £74,450 |
What the statement shows
Your solicitor prepares the statement before completion, using the price in the contract, the mortgage redemption figures and invoices. You should receive it a few days before completion. Check every line, especially the redemption figure and fees.
Apportionments on a tenanted sale
Rent is usually paid in advance. If a tenant has paid a month's rent and completion falls mid-month, the buyer is credited with the days after completion. Arrears are normally kept by the seller, who can still pursue them. For leasehold flats, service charges and ground rent are apportioned in the same way.
Deposits must follow the tenancy. Either the deposit is transferred within the protection scheme or the cash is credited to the buyer, who must protect it. See tenancy deposit protection.
On a portfolio sale
With many properties, the statement can run to several pages, with a line for each lender and each tenancy. A clear rent schedule and deposit schedule agreed at heads of terms stage avoids last-minute arguments.
Keep it for your tax return
The completion statement is key evidence for your Capital Gains Tax calculation. Agent and legal fees on the sale are allowable costs. CGT on UK residential property must be reported and paid within 60 days of completion, so keep the statement where you can find it.
Official Sources and Further Reading
General information for landlords in England, checked against official sources in October 2026. It is not tax, legal or financial advice: speak to a qualified accountant or solicitor about your own circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
A completion statement is the solicitor's account of the money on a sale. It starts with the price, adjusts for rent and service charge apportionments and transferred deposits, then deducts mortgage redemptions, fees and any retentions, showing exactly what the seller receives on completion day.
Common reasons are early repayment charges, daily interest to completion, apportioned rent or a retention for an unresolved issue.
Money held back from the proceeds by agreement, for example until a service charge is finalised or a repair is completed.
Usually not. You report and pay it to HMRC yourself, so set money aside.
Thinking About Selling Your Portfolio?
Ask for a no-obligation portfolio appraisal, or call us to talk through your options in confidence.