Someone called me some weeks ago for our land he wanted to buy.
He then talked about another property he bought which resulted in some problems.
The problem started when they went to ask for the documents. The family that sold it started telling stories to the end that there was no valid document that would back their ownership.
And guess what? They already paid in full and their money is stuck because the family has spent it already.
The best the family did was to construct one receipt for them but we know that in Nigerian Land use act, a receipt doesn’t have any power to confer ownership or right to act.
They fell into that problem because they told them a very cheap price with a short deadline so that they wouldn’t verify the authenticity of the land.
I told him to come to our office himself or send his lawyer or Surveyor to check out the documents of where he wants to buy before making any payment.
We are a company that values trust in business.
When buying land in Nigeria, it’s crucial to request and review several important documents to ensure a transparent and legal transaction. I will talk about 3 today.
- Survey Plan: A survey plan shows the accurate boundaries, size, and coordinates of the land. Without this document, you will either get an incomplete plot or encroach into another person’s own which can bring lots of trouble. You can take that document to the Surveyor General’s office of the state to confirm that the land’s dimensions match what the seller claims.
- Deed of Assignment: This document legally transfers the ownership of the land from the seller to the buyer. It shows the history of the ownership of the land. It must be duly executed and registered. A similar document is deed of Conveyance.
- Certificate of Occupancy (C of O): This is a proof of land ownership and also increases authenticity because it is issued by the state government.
It’s highly recommended to engage the services of an experienced lawyer or land surveyor to help you verify the authenticity and legality of these documents. This due diligence will protect your investment and prevent potential legal issues in the future.
PS: Want to get a genuine and money appreciating property? Visit us at www.Sofocohomes.com
Written by Isreal Nwafor
