It is a common dream of many people that they own a home. You either want to buy a plot of land and build your house on it or buy a dream home. The rising values of real estate can make it a little tough to buy land in Chennai or any other place. You may find a suitable plot but if might be out of your reach because of its high price. Because buying land for sale can be a big investment, there are some things you must check before you buy any of the plots in Chennai.

Check Before Buying Residential Plots in Chennai

A Clear Land Title

Remember to check if the seller of the land has a clear title to it or not. You can request a property lawyer to check for this. Go through the sale deed and if you see that the land seller has a power of attorney or a sale agreement, review these documents very thoroughly because these carry a higher risk of fraud.

Encumbrance Certification Verification

The encumbrance certificate is a document that displays all historical transactions listing the buyer and seller names along with showing if there is a loan that was taken in lieu of the land. A property lawyer can help check the main documents like sale deed and patta.

Patta Verification

The patta should be in the land owner’s name. If you find out that the patta is in the name of a previous owner, and not the seller’s, then beware of buying that kind of land in Chennai.

Read this also- How to check Property and Land Records in India

Seller Identification Documents

You must be absolutely sure of the identity of the seller and the way to do this is to request for key documents like passport, voter’s ID, driving license, or PAN card.

Legal Issues with the Land

You must find out if the land is involved in any legal issues like, the land ownership passed down through the family or a settlement from a divorce, and if this is the case, the land owner should be able to produce the will or any other legal document in support of the claim to the land.

Residential Land for Sale inside City Limits

Check if the Chennai Metro Development Authority or CMDA has approved the plots for sale in Chennai and has a sanction from the local body. You can pay a nominal fee to get a copy of the approved layout from CMDA. Also, remember to check with a licensed surveyor or architect or lawyer if the plot of land is eligible for construction.

Check the Measurement of the Land

Request a local surveyor to take measurements of the land and get him to draw in the Field Map Book and sign it with his official seal. This drawing should be made a part of the sale deed when you register the plot. If there are any discrepancies in the measurement, you can ask the seller for fresh price negotiation.

If you are new to buying residential plots in Chennai, it may seem very simple, but it is important that you check all these details. If the seller does not provide satisfactory answers, keep asking questions until you get to the truth. It may take you more time, but it is better than buying a debatable plot of land and becoming embroiled in legal hassles.