DOCUMENTS TO BE VERIFIED BEFORE PURCHASING A REAL ESTATE PROPERTY

An individual invests a major fraction of his lifelong savings when purchasing a real estate property. Therefore, a clear investigation of the property and the associated documents has to be done before purchasing. Property purchases carried out by simply relying on the landlord’s or realtor’s statements without examining the relevant documentation can lead to many major problems in the future.

When purchasing a property, the buyer must ensure the ‘Proof of Ownership’ of the proposed property to be purchased. He also should be able to identify the property from the associated documents provided and most importantly verify whether the property can be utilised for the envisaged purpose.

In general, the list of documents to be verified can be classified into four categories :

• Proof of Ownership
  • Original Title Deed
  • Original Prior Deed for the last 30 Years
  • Certified Copy of the Title Deed and Prior Deed from the Registration Department.
  • Helpful Online Site :
    • Registration Department of Kerala : https://pearl.registration.kerala.gov.in/

• Revenue Documents related to Land
  • Location Certificate from Village Office
  • Site Survey Sketch from a Surveyor
  • Latest Land Tax Receipt
  • Copy Thandaperu Account
  • Any Revenue Documents showing the Land Classification
  • Documents to verify the Coastal Regulation Zone for the Land
  • Documents to verify the Town Planning Layout
  • Helpful Online Site :
    • Revenue Department of Kerala : https://www.revenue.kerala.gov.in/
    • National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO : https://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in/home/index.php
    • National Informatics Centre, Kerala : https://emaps.kerala.gov.in/bhunaksha/kl/homenew.html

• Documents related to the Building
  • Approved Building Permit and Plan before the construction of any building
  • Occupancy Certificate and Completion Plan after the Construction of the Building
  • Latest Building Tax Receipt
  • Kerala State Electricity Board Bill, Kerala Water Authority Bill, etc.
  • For Larger Buildings: Fire and Safety, Consent to Operate from Kerala State Pollution Control Board, etc.
  • Helpful Online Site :
    • Information Kerala Mission : https://tax.lsgkerala.gov.in/epayment/index.php
    • Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority : http://keralaczma.gov.in/maps/2011/ernakulam
    • Kerala Real Estate Regulatory Authority

https://rera.kerala.gov.in/

• Verification of Encumbrance in the Property
  • Latest Encumbrance Certificate from the Sub-Registrar Office for the last 30 Years
  • Latest Possession certificate from the Village Office
  • Latest Possession and Non-Attachment Certificate from the Village Office.
  • Helpful Online Site :
    • Registration Department of Kerala : https://pearl.registration.kerala.gov.in/

Reading and understanding the above documents thoroughly, as well as checking for any errors, or corrections, verification of the authenticity of the documents provided by the seller, etc. are all important things to do before the purchase.

In addition to the above, the road to the site, its width, nearby important places, vehicular access, the shape and direction of the site, the possibility of road widening, infrastructure like such as water supply and electricity to the site, soil structure, climate changes in the area, and the possibility of flooding are also to be investigated to ensure its suitability for future use.

Many people who want to buy land get cheated or disappointed for a variety of reasons. Many problems can be avoided by paying attention to the points mentioned above and by ensuring that the location chosen is suitable for future use.

If you are doubt, you can also seek professional help from a valuer for the verification of the property.

Don’t try to be an expert in the field of Real Estate: Seek Advice from a Qualified Expert