If you are thinking of buying property in Greece, remember this: the legal check is everything. Otherwise, you might end up with a house that “belongs” both to the seller and… his former partner, has three mortgages, and an uncle living inside “until he finds something better.”

The legal check is the property’s check-up: the process your lawyer follows to ensure that the purchase you are about to make is clean, lawful, and safe.

🔹 What the legal check includes

Ownership check
The lawyer verifies at the Land Registry or the Cadastre whether the seller is indeed the owner.

Check of burdens – claims – seizures
Mortgages, mortgage prenotations, claims, seizures – everything is scrutinized.

Check of permits and contracts
Building permits, topographic plans, older contracts – to ensure that you are buying “clean” square meters and that the description of the property corresponds to its actual condition.

Legal opinion
The lawyer tells you whether the property is clear or if… you should run away.

🔹 Technical check (engineer)

The engineer is responsible for checking the legality and the actual condition of the property.

Includes:

• Verification of the building permit and comparison with the approved plans.
• Checking for unauthorized constructions or planning violations.
• Verification of the property’s surface areas against tax documents and utility bills.
• On-site inspection of the property (structural elements, mechanical installations, equipment).
• Issuance of the engineer’s certificate of legality.

🔹 Real examples

The “hidden” burden
Anna found the house of her dreams. She did not carry out a legal check, signed the purchase contract, and later discovered that the property had a mortgage prenotation. Now she is paying someone else’s debt.

The salvation of the check
Petros carried out a legal check before buying a holiday home. The lawyer discovered that the plot was illegally occupied. Petros withdrew and bought another house – this time “clean.”

🔹 The magic of η titlos.com

This is where η titlos.com changes the game. The seller prepares a complete, organized file with all the documents required for both the legal and the technical check.

• The lawyer has all the necessary information ready.
• The engineer can immediately perform a complete inspection.
• There are no delays such as “a document is missing, come back next week.”

In short, when the paperwork is in order, the purchase is completed without stress, delays, or surprises.

🔹 What to ask your lawyer

To ensure that the legal check is complete, ask your lawyer to:

• Check the Cadastre or Land Registry for any transfers of ownership and burdens.
• Verify if there are mortgages, mortgage prenotations, claims, or seizures.
• Confirm that the building permits are valid and that the property has no unauthorized constructions; any legalizations of irregularities must reflect the property’s actual condition.
• Examine all old contracts for possible legal disputes.
• Provide a written legal opinion before you sign the preliminary agreement or the final contract.

🔹 Why it is essential

• It saves you headaches and money.
• It protects you from hidden burdens, unauthorized constructions, and legal disputes.
• It strengthens your negotiating position, since you know the true condition of the property.

📌 Think of it this way:
“The legal check is like health insurance – only it protects your wallet and your peace of mind.”

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