Legal due diligence before buying property is more than reviewing a photo of a contract. It checks ownership, the seller’s authority, the property’s status, and financial and legal obligations. Completing the review before paying a deposit gives the buyer more room to negotiate or withdraw.
Core documents
- Seller’s identity and proof of legal capacity.
- Original title deed and prior contracts in the ownership chain.
- Power of attorney, including scope and validity.
- Area, boundaries, and unit number records.
- Permits or allocation decisions where relevant.
- Available tax, utility, and maintenance receipts.
Risk checks
Check for mortgages, attachments, disputes, usufruct rights, existing leases, and inconsistencies between documents and the property. For developer projects, review land ownership, company authority, construction schedule, and assignment policy.
Review the contract
It should clearly describe the property and set payment dates, delivery, specifications, registration duties, warranties for defects or delay, and procedures for termination and refunds. Generic terms copied from a template may not protect the actual transaction.
When to pause
Pause and obtain advice if the original title is unavailable, the ownership chain has gaps, area or boundaries conflict, or the seller refuses to link payments to complete documents. No review can guarantee that a dispute will never arise, but it can expose important risks before commitment.
Legal Protector reviews the parties’ authority, title chain, and restrictions and identifies missing documents and next steps. General information only; each property file needs individual review.
