The land and mortgage register (księga wieczysta) – what is it and what does it look like?

Want to be sure of the legal status of the property you intend to buy? Before you sign the preliminary agreement (umowa przedwstępna), you should carry out a thorough analysis of the entries in the land and mortgage register (księga wieczysta). It is a document of key importance, which can reveal a great deal of relevant information about a given flat or house. In this article you will learn what a land and mortgage register looks like and what role it plays in property transactions.

Definition and purpose of the land and mortgage register

The land and mortgage register is an official register whose main task is to collect information on the legal aspects of a property, above all the right of ownership, but also encumbrances and restrictions. The purpose of the land and mortgage register is to ensure transparency and security in property transactions. Thanks to this document it is possible to avoid many unpleasant situations, such as buying a flat or house encumbered with a mortgage or another debt that could pass to the new owner.

What does a land and mortgage register look like?

A land and mortgage register consists of four sections, which contain important information about the property. Here is how this document is divided.

• Information about the property

In this section you will find not only basic information such as the address, area and plot number, but also detailed data such as the number of storeys, the type of property or the number of rooms. This is also where the rights that belong to the owner are entered.

• Information about the owner of the flat or house

This part of the register contains information about the owner or the perpetual usufructuary (użytkownik wieczysty) of the property. Where there are several owners, the details of the size of their shares are given here.

• Information about rights and claims

This section is devoted to all rights and claims concerning the property. From it you will learn about any encumbrances, including easements, leases, rights of pre-emption and life annuity rights. It is also the part of the register where you will find information about potential enforcement proceedings relating to the property.

• Information about mortgages

Here you will find information such as the details of the mortgage creditor, the amount of the mortgage encumbrance, the currency and the repayment date of the debt. This is an important part of the register for people planning to buy a property, as it allows you to assess any risk involved in acquiring the flat or house.

How can you access the land and mortgage register of a given property?

Land and mortgage registers are public registers available to anyone interested, provided they have the number of the given register. To view a specific register, you can go to the District Court that serves the area where the property is located. There you can submit a request for information from the land and mortgage register. For many people a much more convenient option is to use the online search tool run by the Ministry of Justice, known as the EKW system.

Summary

The land and mortgage register is one of the basic tools for maintaining legal order in the property sector, making it possible to quickly verify the legal status of any plot, flat or house. Without access to the land and mortgage register, the property market would be less transparent and far more vulnerable to various kinds of fraud and manipulation. If you are looking for a specialist who will guide you through the process of buying a flat, use the services of an estate agency in Katowice. The experience of specialists and their knowledge of the local market will make acquiring a home of your own smooth and trouble-free.