PURCHASING A LAND OR HOUSE IN NIGERIA: DOCUMENTS TO ASK FOR
One thing needs to be kept clear at all times when purchasing a home, and that is ownership. In order to avoid any kind of nasty situations in the near future, you need to know who owns what.
PURCHASING A LAND OR HOUSE IN NIGERIA: DOCUMENTS TO ASK FOR
One thing needs to be kept clear at all times when purchasing a home, and that is ownership. In order to avoid any kind of nasty situations in the near future, you need to know who owns what. Believe me, these ugly situations occur far more frequently than they ought to, and this is due to a lack of knowledge regarding the documentation you must request when purchasing a home in Nigeria. Here are a few of the most significant documents:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR LAND PURCHASE IN NIGERIA
SURVEY PLAN: This is a crucial title document that aids in revealing the actual ownership status in all transactions involving land and landed properties. It also helps to show whether the land in question is not part of any government-owned or committed land or area.
The survey plan must contain the following document:
Owner’s name Address of the land Size of the land A drawn-out layout of the land The name of the surveyor and the date of the survey stamp
DEED OF ASSIGNMENT: Following the completion of any land or property transaction between the buyer and the owner or seller of the relevant land or landed property, the buyer must seek and be handed this extremely significant document. Section 2(v) of the Conveyancing Act 1881 provides the definition of conveyance as follows: “A conveyance includes any assignment, appointment, lease, settlement and other assurances and covenants to surrender made by deed of sale, mortgage, demise or settlement of any property or on any other dealing with or for any property; and convey, unless a contrary intention appears, has a meaning corresponding with that of conveyance”.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY: In Nigeria, one of the most significant land documents is the Certificate of Occupancy. Any piece of land in Nigeria can have its legal ownership status verified using it. It is the document that indicates that an individual has been granted a statutory right of occupancy by the Governor of the state or a customary right of occupancy by the Local Government Chairman, where the land is situated in a rural area. This document is also very important where the property in question is on a land that was acquired through a state grant. property; and convey, unless a contrary intention appears, has a meaning corresponding with that of conveyance”.
POWER OF ATTORNEY: This is usually required where a person is acting for another person, individuals or companies as his agent. It is a document that authorizes such person to act on their behalf.
PURCHASE RECEIPT: This is the proof of the full payment for the land purchase, and it is typically needed for registering the land.
In conclusion, it is crucial to note that when buying a land or landed property, proper investigating be made to avoid unnecessary troubles in the future.
NB: This article is not a legal advice, and under no circumstance should you take it as such. All information provided are for general purpose only. For information, please contact chamanlawfirm@gmail.com
WRITTEN BY CHAMAN LAW FIRM TEAM
EMAIL: chamanlawfirm@gmail.com
TEL: 08065553671, 08024230080