Checking property papers before you buy — what to look for

Buying property is likely the biggest single purchase you'll ever make, and it's also the one where a hidden problem in the paperwork can cost you everything. The seller is friendly, the price feels right, and there's pressure to move fast — which is exactly when careful checking matters most. A calm look at the papers first saves a great deal of grief later.

The documents to see

At a minimum, ask for and examine:

• Title documents — proof the seller actually owns it, ideally traced back over several years.
• The chain of ownership — how the property passed to the current owner.
• Encumbrance certificate — showing whether there's a loan or claim on it.
• Property tax receipts — up to date, in the seller's name.
• Approved building plan and permissions — that construction is legal.
• For a flat, the builder's approvals and, in a resale, a no-objection from the society.

The red flags

A seller reluctant to share originals, gaps in the ownership chain, a property under loan or dispute, or construction that doesn't match the approved plan — any of these is a reason to slow down, not speed up.

Why a lawyer is worth it here

You can do a first check yourself, but on a purchase this size, a lawyer's title verification is genuinely worth the fee — they catch the problems that aren't obvious to an untrained eye. This is not the place to save a few thousand rupees.

Tell Miss Lucy Lite what you've been given and she'll help you see what's there and what's missing before you commit.