Buying an apartment — what to check before you sign

Buying an apartment is likely the biggest contract you will ever sign, and almost everything that goes wrong later was checkable before signing. The verification is unglamorous: who owns it, what is registered against it, what the taxes are, and when each payment leaves your hands.

Verify the property and its legal status

Check that the seller is the registered owner and that the apartment is free of liens, mortgages, caveats or third-party rights. Confirm the registration at the Land Registry or whichever authority holds the rights, since not every property is registered in the same place, and make sure the paperwork matches what you actually saw: area, rooms, parking and storage. A discrepancy between the extract and the viewing is usually the first sign of a problem worth understanding before you go further.

Taxes, permits and what the building actually is

Understand your purchase tax position and the seller's own tax obligations, because a seller with an unresolved liability can delay the transfer long after you have paid. Check building permits so that an unpermitted addition does not become your risk, and read the building's registration and bylaws where relevant.

Tie the money to milestones

Each payment should be linked to a defined milestone rather than a date, with funds held in a controlled arrangement where appropriate, so that money moves only as the legal position improves. Confirm the delivery date and what happens if it slips, and make sure the agreement says what you get if it slips badly.

FAQ

Do I need a lawyer to buy an apartment?
Real-estate purchases are high-stakes and the paperwork is technical. Most buyers use a lawyer for the agreement and the payment terms. Aidvocate can help you understand the contract and prepare your questions first.
What should I check before paying a deposit?
Confirm ownership and that the property is lien-free, agree the full price and payment schedule in writing, and never pay outside the signed agreement's terms.
The seller wants payment before registration is sorted.
That is exactly the situation controlled payment arrangements exist for. Money should move as the legal position improves, not ahead of it.
Can I rely on what the agent told me?
Not on its own. Anything that matters to your decision belongs in the written agreement, because a verbal assurance from an agent is very hard to enforce later.