Everything you need to know about the Electronic Land and Mortgage Register

The introduction of the EKW revolutionised the way property information is kept and stored. Compared with traditional paper land and mortgage registers (księgi wieczyste), the Electronic Land and Mortgage Register offers a number of important advantages that make it a modern, user-friendly tool. In this article you will learn what the EKW is and how to check it.

What is the Electronic Land and Mortgage Register?

The Electronic Land and Mortgage Register (Elektroniczna Księga Wieczysta, EKW) is a modern ICT system that replaced the traditional way of keeping land and mortgage registers (księgi wieczyste) in the form of paper documents. The EKW is the official and legally binding source of information on every property in Poland. It contains data on:

• the property: plot number, address, area, type of property;
• the owners: first names and surnames, addresses, shares in the ownership right;
• encumbrances: mortgages, claims, easements;
• pledges: ordinary and contractual pledges.

How do you check the EKW?

The Electronic Land and Mortgage Register can be accessed online at https://ekw.ms.gov.pl/ without logging in, or via a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany). To view information on a given property you will need the number of its land and mortgage register. You will find it in the notarial deed (akt notarialny), in an extract from the land and building register (rejestr gruntów), or at the Land and Mortgage Register Division of the district court with jurisdiction over the area where the property is located. Access to the EKW is free of charge. Fees apply only to copies, extracts from individual sections, and the certificate confirming the closure of a land and mortgage register. Such documents are issued in two forms. The first is an electronic version for you to print yourself. The second is a paper document, which is delivered by post to the correspondence address you indicate.

The Electronic Land and Mortgage Register – benefits

The EKW offers many benefits compared with traditional land and mortgage registers. The system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can also be used from anywhere. Searching and browsing information is simple and intuitive. The EKW gives full insight into the history of the property and its current legal status. The data in the Electronic Land and Mortgage Register is stored securely in a database, which protects it from loss or destruction.

Summary

The electronic land and mortgage register is becoming an increasingly popular tool, offering a number of benefits to everyone involved in property transactions. Its ease of use, availability and up-to-date data make it a valuable source of information for buyers, sellers, estate agents and representatives of financial institutions.

If you need help selling or buying a flat, be sure to get in touch with me. As an experienced estate agent in Katowice I will guide you through the whole process and help you finalise the transaction.