What legal checks do you do before buying a property to avoid future litigation?

First is ownership (title). I ask for previous sale deeds and check if the seller is the real owner. Nowadays, many states have online property registration portals where you can search documents using the owner name or property details. You can also cross-check at the sub-registrar office if needed.

Second is the Encumbrance Certificate (EC). This shows if there are any loans or legal issues. You can easily download it from the state registration website (just search “EC online + your state”). Enter property details or document number and check if it’s clean.

For new projects, I check RERA details online. Go to your state RERA website, search the project name, and check registration, completion timeline, approvals, and complaints. This is one of the easiest and most useful checks.

Then I verify project approvals like building plan and land use. Some cities provide this on municipal corporation websites, where you can search approved projects. If not available online, you may need to ask the builder and cross-check offline.

I also go through the builder-buyer agreement. The builder shares this, but I usually read key points like delay penalties and cancellation terms. If possible, I get a lawyer to review it.

For resale property, I check property tax and dues online. Most cities have municipal websites where you can enter property ID and see tax payment status. This helps confirm there are no pending dues.

For occupancy certificate (OC), sometimes it’s available on municipal portals, or you can ask the builder/society and verify.