Buying or renting an apartment: documents and contract

Property is often the biggest purchase of a lifetime, and most problems come from paperwork that was not checked or a contract written in a hurry. This guide breaks the process into clear steps, whether you are buying or renting.

If you are buying

1. Check ownership

• Ask for the seller's ownership contract and review the chain of ownership from the original owner to the current seller. Every contract should lead to the next.
• A contract registered at the Real Estate Registry is much stronger than a preliminary contract. If the contract is preliminary, ask about a court validation of the signature or of the contract.
• Make sure there is no mortgage, seizure or lawsuit on the apartment.

2. Check the building

• Ask about the building permit and make sure the apartment's floor is included in it and is not an illegal extra floor.
• Ask about the electricity, water and gas meters: are they installed, in whose name, and are there unpaid bills?
• Ask about the owners' association, monthly maintenance and the lift.

3. Payment

Do not pay a large sum on a preliminary contract before a lawyer reviews the documents. Split payments into stages tied to clear steps (signing, handover, registration), and use traceable payment methods.

If you are renting

• Make sure the person renting to you is the owner or holds a power of attorney that allows renting.
• Write in the contract: the term, the rent, any yearly increase, the deposit and when it is returned, and who pays maintenance and bills.
• Photograph the apartment and the condition of appliances and furniture (if furnished) on handover day, and list them in an annex to the contract.
• Get a receipt for every payment.

Viewing properly

• Visit in daylight and at a busy time to judge light, noise and transport.
• Open the taps to check water pressure, test the electricity and sockets, and look at walls and ceilings for damp or cracks.
• Check orientation and ventilation, and the distance to schools, hospitals and transport.
• Talk to the neighbours or the doorman; they know a lot about the building.

Warning signs

• A large deposit requested before viewing or before you see the documents.
• A price far below the area for no clear reason.
• Refusal to let a lawyer review the contract, or unusual pressure to sign quickly.

This is general advice and not a substitute for a property lawyer before you sign or pay.