Property Legal Due Diligence: What It Is and Why It Is Essential

Purchasing a property is a significant investment—and like any serious investment, it requires proper preparation and legal protection. Legal due diligence on the property is a necessary process before signing any preliminary agreement or sales contract, as it identifies potential issues that could pose risks to the buyer in the future.

What Is Property Legal Due Diligence?
Property legal due diligence is the process where a specialized lawyer examines the legal status of a property to confirm that it is “clean” and that the buyer can acquire it without risk. The review is conducted at the competent Land Registry and Cadastre offices and mainly concerns ownership, encumbrances, and any pending legal issues that might affect the property.

What Does Legal Due Diligence Include?
• Title Deeds Examination
The lawyer reviews the chain of title—how the property was transferred (purchase, gift, parental grant, inheritance, etc.). Usually, the review covers at least the last 20 years, which is the minimum period for adverse possession. However, the check extends as long as necessary to fully ensure uninterrupted and lawful ownership transfer.

• Identification of Legal Encumbrances
Any mortgages, pre-annotations, seizures, or legal disputes potentially affecting transferability or legal clarity of the property are investigated and examined.

• Verification of Servitudes
The lawyer checks whether any servitudes exist on the property (e.g., rights of way, air rights, usage rights) that might restrict full and free use.

• Data Consistency Check
It verifies absolute consistency of property details between the Land Registry and Cadastre—such as area, owner, location, registration number, and boundaries. Any discrepancies can delay or prevent the transaction.

When Is the Review Conducted?
Legal due diligence is performed before signing any preliminary or final contract, regardless of any apparent issues. It is a crucial preventive step that ensures your investment rests on a solid and lawful foundation.

Entrust the Review to Our Team
Our legal team responsibly and methodically undertakes the full legal due diligence of the property of your interest. We work with accuracy, speed, and full transparency, ensuring you proceed with confidence in your purchase.

Contact us to schedule the review and safeguard your investment with professionalism and legal security.

Aikaterini Panagiota
Lawyer