INVESTIGATE WHEN BUYING LAND/HOUSE IN NIGERIA

INVESTIGATE WHEN BUYING LAND/HOUSE IN NIGERIA

“Barrister, I want to buy a land and house in an estate. Do I still need to do due diligence (investigation)?”

Yes. A beautiful Estate can still hide trouble that will shock you later.

At Apex Chambers, we always tell clients in Nigeria and abroad that an Estate is not proof of genuine ownership.

Some developers only allocate land; they do not own it. Some Estates are sitting on Government acquired land or land with ownership issues. Some developers are in court battles you will not hear of unless you investigate.

Do these before paying:

1. Verify the developer’s ownership:
Ask for their C of O, Deed of Conveyance, Deed of Assignment or any ownership document. Then get an experienced Property Lawyer to investigate the property. Ownership is not by fine glossy brochure; ownership is by valid documents.

2. Check for issues:
Confirm that the property is not under Government acquisition, not a subject of dispute and not used as collateral.

3. Inspect physically
Walk round. Check the drainage, finishing, layout, whether it matches what was advertised, to avoid what I ordered versus what I got.

4. Review the Estate Agreement:
Service charges, penalties, regulations and maintenance fees can trap you. Some Estates will shock your pocket after you move in.

Investigate. A land/house inside an Estate still needs due diligence. The smart step is to let a Property Lawyer handle it so your money, rest of mind and ownership are safe.

__________________
APEX CHAMBERS, Law Firm of Property/Real Estate and Business/Corporate/Commercial Lawyers, Attorneys, Barristers, Solicitors Advocates, Legal Practitioners rendering legal services, Legal Consultants and Notary Public with Law Office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Phone: +234(0)7030868694 (Calls & Whatsapp)
Email: info@apexchambersglobal.com
Website: www.apexchambersglobal.com