Things to look out for when buying land in Nigeria

Before you commit towards purchasing any piece of land in Nigeria, it is important to do your due diligence by checking that the sale of the plot(s) is a genuine sale, otherwise your story might turn to “had I known”.

What exactly do I mean by due diligence?

Due diligence means that you will need to carry out an investigation of the business(s) behind the sale, the alleged owners of the property, and also the property itself before you make the decision to transfer any money and sign a contract. This might seem like a lot of work, but it is important work because anything negative that you uncover will go a long way towards protecting you from being defrauded.

Here’s what you stand to gain from taking the time to carry out thorough investigations:

•  you may reveal hidden costs or unpaid fees like accumulated land use charge, tax etc.
•  you may find that the actual size and topography of the land in question are different from that advertised.
• investigations will help to verify the real owner of the land.
• you will also be able to uncover whether a property is located in a location void of government acquisition.

Things to consider before purchasing land

When a property is advertised for sale, the advert usually comes from one of the following parties:

• An estate developer
• An Individual or Company
• Directly from the family who claim to own the land

If you are dealing with an estate developer, ensure that the property you are purchasing is within the estate. If you are buying from an individual or company, it could be that means the property was purchased with an intent to resell, or perhaps it was no longer fit for the purpose.

Buying directly from the family who claims to own the land is actually the trickiest of the three because it can be quite difficult to pinpoint the key figure who has authority to sell the land. You may also have difficulty obtaining documents to prove ownership of the land, and this can be quite risky. Without documents showing ownership of the property,  the buyer has to rely on the word of a seller whom you do not know.

Steps to land purchase

• Decide on what sort of land you want. Once you find a property for sale, visit the location of the said plot to confirm the size and condition of the plot.
• Think about your budget. Land prices vary with location – for example, a plot in Ikorodu will be priced differently from a plot of the same size in Lekki.
• Check to see if the payment of land use charge by the owner of the land is applicable. Most pieces of land with C of O (certificate of occupancy) in Lagos state attract this charge on an annual basis.
• Check surrounding properties and gauge their prices against the price of the property your are interested in. Assess the land further to discover its price in relation to others in the surrounding.

Documents to ask when buying land

Here are vital documents to ask for when purchasing land in Nigeria.

1. Purchase Receipts

This should be quite straightforward unless you are purchasing from a family. If this is the case, after payment for the plot, a family receipt from the authorized family head is issued and you need to ensure that this is witnessed by the family secretary and a key family member. The receipt must bear the family name that is selling the land, date of purchase, location of the land, the amount paid and family address and also the receivers name (the buyer).

2. Survey Plan

This is applicable when you are purchasing a piece of land from an individual or a company. A survey plan shows all the beacon numbers, plan number, the name of the qualified surveyor who carried out the survey as well as the year the land was surveyed. You will also need proof of lodgment of the red copy to the office of the surveyor-general.

3. Layout Plan

The layout Plan is a drawing that shows the arrangement of the lands/houses and roads in that area.

4. Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney is a legal process which gives another person (nominated by you) the power to act as your legal representative if you are unable to make a decision (perhaps if you reside outside the country).

5. Deeds of Assignment

This is a document that shows the historical parties to the agreement. It basically traces the history of how the land has change hands up to the present owner. With family purchases, it must also include the names of the members of the family who sold the land, family head and at least a principal witness. It must be duly signed and stamped by the concerned parties.

6. Certificate of Occupancy ( C of O)

You have probably heard of this before. A C of O is always issued by the authorized government office. This document proves that the new owner has the right to occupy and use a specific piece of land described in the document in accordance with the survey description of the location under certain terms of the contract.

The benefits of the C of O includes:

• prevents a situation where a single property is claimed by multiple owners.
• proves that the person named in the document is the exclusive owner of the land.
• it is a very crucial document during mortgage transactions.
• it is widely used to resolve land disputes that arise from ownership tussles.
• it is accepted as a security or collateral for loans from banks and other financial institutions.

How to safeguard your land investment

If you are unable to produce your title documents, you could lose your landed property. It is always wise to keep your land papers as safe and as secure as possible. Secondly, land lying fallow always seems an attractive target for scammers who sell land which does not belong to them. The first thing you need to do following your land purchase is to start making preparation for building a fence and a gate. The process of fencing and gating your land is discussed here: http://www.mrpepe.com/property-housing/guide-how-do-i-fence-my-property-and-how-much-will-it-cost/