Property Document Verification in India: A Buyer’s Checklist

Verify the seller and chain of title

Match the seller’s identity with the title documents and examine how ownership moved between earlier owners. If a company, trustee, heir or attorney signs, verify the legal capacity and authority relied on.

Check land, revenue and municipal records

Obtain the records relevant to the state and property type, such as record-of-rights, mutation, survey, municipal assessment or property-tax information. Online records are useful starting points, but names and entries should be reconciled with the title documents.

Investigate mortgages, claims and proceedings

Ask for encumbrance and loan-release documents where applicable, and check whether the property is affected by litigation, attachment, acquisition, tenancy, family claims or society restrictions. The searches required depend on the property and jurisdiction.

Review approvals and the physical property

For constructed property, review sanctioned plans, completion or occupancy documents where applicable, society or association records and utility status. Compare the documents with the actual area, access, boundaries and possession.

Have the transaction documents reviewed

A property advocate can review the agreement to sell, payment schedule, representations, indemnities, default terms, possession, registration and original-document handover. Do not transfer substantial funds based only on a broker’s summary or photocopies.

Official sources

• Housing and property services — National Government Services Portal ↗
• The Registration Act, 1908 — India Code ↗