The Land Title Certificate is nothing more or less than the identification document for a property, which contains all the records made of the dwelling on which it is registered.
Normally, the certificate includes the physical description of the property, the names of the previous and current owners, records of past transactions such as sales, donations, mortgages, among other information related to the property. The information included in the land title certificate varies according to local regulations and the property registration system in place.
How can I get the certificate? And how much does it cost?
This document is obtained from the authorities responsible for registering property, such as the Land Registry Office, or via the Online Land Registry website.
If you go to the registry office to get the certificate, the document costs €20, if you go via the website, it costs €15.
Ordering online is more advantageous because, as well as being cheaper, whenever it is necessary to update the document with any information after it has been requested, that information is updated automatically. The certificate is valid for 6 months once requested.
When is a land title certificate used?
The land registry certificate is useful for various purposes, such as:
- Real Estate Transactions: when someone decides to buy or sell a property;
- Real Estate Financing: banks and financial institutions generally require the presentation of a land title certificate when granting a mortgage;
- Litigation and Legal Proceedings: in legal disputes involving property, a land title certificate can be used as evidence to verify ownership and property history;
- Urban Planning: municipal authorities can use the land content certificate to verify land use and compliance with regulations;
- Property Valuation: property valuers can use information contained in the certificate to determine the market value of a property.
Source: https://www.idealista.pt