In the complex world of real estate transactions in Greece, one of the most time-consuming and demanding documents that often causes significant delays is the Certificate of Completion of the Building ID (Η.Τ.Κ.), or as most people know it, the Building ID.

What does the Building ID include?

To issue it, the engineer is required to collect a large volume of information and documents:

• All building permits issued for the property since its construction.
• All plans and studies accompanying those permits.
• Any legalizations of unauthorized constructions, along with their corresponding plans.
• The ownership title and the allocation table of the building’s shares.
• Technical description of the property being sold.
• The Energy Performance Certificate (E.P.C.), which, if not yet issued, requires a separate assessment.
• The Construction Inspection Certificate (C.I.C.), if it has been issued.
• Utility information regarding the property’s electricity and water supply.

The final version of the Building ID is accompanied by the Engineer’s Certificate and is valid for two months. In order to proceed, applications are typically submitted to the Urban Planning Department of the relevant municipalities or to the General State Archives, and visits—usually by appointment—are made to collect plans and permits. This process varies by municipality and may take from 10 to 50 days. It is also common for searches to be conducted in notarial archives.

Common Practice: Previewing the Building ID

Acknowledging these delays, our platform recommends the initial upload of the Building ID preview or “excerpt,” as referred to by notaries. Although it is not yet accompanied by the Engineer’s Certificate and is not fully valid, notaries insist on reviewing it beforehand. The stated reason is to check for potential corrections—although in practice, this often helps expedite the contract drafting process.

Banks and Loans: Another Factor

If the buyer intends to finance the purchase through a bank loan, the bank requires the full Building ID in order to approve the loan and proceed with the transaction. This requirement adds additional time to the overall property transfer timeline, as the bank cannot move forward without this document.

While the Building ID is essential for ensuring the legal validity of any property, in practice, it is one of the main sources of delays in property transactions. Therefore, starting the process early and working with an engineer from the beginning of the sale is critical to the success of any transaction.

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