At this point, many give up in their quest to own property because it is demanding and cumbersome. It’s no wonder John and his friends bought a property on a leap of faith and ended up regretting it. Let’s not be like them.
How do you properly verify that land in Lagos is legitimately for sale and that it is being sold to you by the legitimate owner? These are two different things, but we’ll break them down for you nice and easy.
To effectively check and ensure that the land you want to buy has no encumbrances at the federal and state levels, follow these steps to verify property titles:
Start by requesting the “coordinates” of the land from your realtor. For added security, ask for a site inspection of the land and go with a trusted surveyor. While there, ask the surveyor to take the coordinates. Now that you have your coordinates, what is the next step?
Head down to the Office of the Surveyor General of Lagos State in Alausa (OSSG) and make a proper land verification inquiry over the counter. The cost varies depending on the part of Lagos. Wait for their response, and if all goes well, the land search will confirm the corresponding title and condition being told to you by the developer or realtor. If you’ve been told it’s non-committed land and under no government acquisition, then you are in the clear. If not, proceed with caution.
After you are done with the initial verification, take the same coordinates to the Urban & Regional Planning department of Lagos State. You are here to confirm a few things. Yes, a land can be free from all government acquisition, but the URP department is responsible for planning every inch of land for specific uses. For instance, land can be designated for agricultural use, residential use, forestry, etc. Even land with a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) might be for agricultural use. This is an area where a lot of us get it wrong because if you go ahead to purchase without verifying, you will most likely end up having issues with the state, going through regularization and other means to maintain possession of that land. Also, certain C of Os cannot be processed on that land. For more details on C of O land verification, contact us at info@roi-safe.com
By following these steps, you can ensure that the land you are interested in is legitimately for sale and that it is being sold by the legitimate owner. This due diligence will save you from future headaches and potential legal issues. ROI SAFE puts your safety and security first. We give our clients and prospects the knowledge and confidence they need to make a smart investment decision. Our team thoroughly research and verify all details, so you can trust you’re making a secure choice. Let us help you find your perfect home. Check out our top properties HERE.
Photo Credit: By Olasunkanmiariyo
ROI Safe Limited (“ROI SAFE”) is a real estate firm registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria (CAC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It complies with the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and other relevant laws and regulations through its registration with the EFCC’s Special Control Unit Money Laundering (SCUML). Specializing in real estate investment opportunities, ROI Safe provides clients access to secure properties in strategic locations with viable returns. Detailed information about our listings can be found here.
