Before you buy a building plot…

Choosing the right building plot is a huge challenge. Not only its size matters, but also its connection to utilities and the surrounding area. We have prepared a list of topics you need to pay attention to before you buy a building plot.

Ownership and other formalities

Checking the land and mortgage registers (księgi wieczyste) is the first step before signing an agreement. Once the owner of the plot provides the register number, you can check who really owns it, whether it is encumbered with a mortgage, and whether a right of way has been established, that is, whether a neighbour can drive across our land.

Access to the plot

If the plot is next to a public road, there is no problem. Difficulties arise when the plot can be reached only across land belonging to neighbours. In that case it may be necessary to establish a right of way of necessity (służebność drogi koniecznej). In theory this should not be a problem, but a stubborn neighbour can make the formalities very difficult. Also check who is responsible for clearing snow in winter and for maintaining the road.

What lies beneath the ground?

A soil survey is an expensive investment, but one that lets you save quite a lot in the future. The analysis will determine the composition of the soil. This in turn will help you choose suitable foundations for building the house. It is an important stage, because poorly chosen materials can cause walls to crack quickly or the building to subside. It is also worth checking whether the plot is on marshy or flood-prone land. With such knowledge you can adapt the design better.

Connection to utilities

It seems an obvious matter, but amid everything involved in searching for a plot, e.g. in Katowice, it can be overlooked. If there are already houses next door, the plot probably already has all the necessary connections. If it is out of the way, there is a risk that you will have to reckon with additional costs and loss of time.

READ ALSO – CONVERTING AGRICULTURAL LAND INTO A BUILDING PLOT

The local zoning plan

Check with the municipal office whether there is a local zoning plan (plan zagospodarowania przestrzennego) for the area where you want to buy a plot. There is a risk that in future a supermarket or a scrapyard will appear right next to your house. Anyone interested can obtain this information, and maps can increasingly be found on the websites of the offices.

A friendly neighbourhood

If you want to live in the house you build on the plot, check how far away the shops, public offices, medical clinics and school are. The point is that no trip out of the house – whether to work or to the shops – should mean a long journey by car. Make sure there are also places for walks or sports facilities nearby.