Property papers checklist for a resale flat
Choose the type of flat and how the seller holds it, and tick off each paper as you see it. The list is written for Maharashtra and is most useful before you pay a token amount. Your ticks stay in this browser and are not sent to us.
This is general information, not legal advice for your situation. What you type stays in your browser unless you choose to send it to an advocate.
Which flat are you buying?
0 of 23 ticked. Your ticks are saved only in this browser, on this device.
Ownership
Society papers
Building approvals
Land records
Dues and charges
Before you pay the token
Have an advocate review the file
Ticking an item means you have seen the paper. It does not mean the paper is sound. For that, an advocate reads the papers together, and our property title search page explains how this is done.
Using this list before you pay a token
A token amount is often asked for early, sometimes before you have seen any papers. It helps to ask for copies first, or to make the token refundable in writing if the title is not found clear.
What online searches can and cannot show
- IGR Maharashtra’s online search shows registered documents, but free results are for information only and older documents may not be online.
- Index II covers registered documents. Society transfers and unregistered agreements will not appear in it, and a court case appears only if a notice of it was registered.
- A CERSAI search shows charges recorded there, not every possible claim on a property.
Things a list cannot do
A paper can look complete and still have a defect, such as a missing heir or a mismatch in the chain. Our guide to the real estate title search explains what an advocate looks for, and the Mumbai property lawyer page describes the buying process in more detail. Before you budget, you can also estimate the costs using our stamp duty calculator.
Common questions
Which papers should I see before paying a token for a resale flat?
Ask for the seller's registered agreement or deed with its Index II, the earlier agreements back to the first buyer, the society share certificate and no-dues letter, the occupancy certificate, and property tax and electricity bills. If there is a home loan, also ask for the bank's letter showing the outstanding amount.
What is Index II in Maharashtra?
Index II is the registration department's summary of a registered document, showing details such as the parties, the property and the value. You can search for it through IGR Maharashtra's online search. Free results are for information only, and older documents may not be online, so a full search still matters.
What is a search report, and how far back does it go?
A search report is an advocate's review of the sub-registrar's records, showing registered transfers and mortgages on the property. It usually covers about 30 years. It does not show everything, because litigation needs a separate court search, and it may not reveal unregistered agreements or society-level transfers.
Why does the occupancy certificate matter for a resale flat?
The occupancy certificate is the local authority's permission to occupy a completed building. Its absence may point to a problem with approvals, which can affect home loans, services and later sale. Ask to see the certificate along with the sanctioned plan, and check that the flat matches the plan you are shown.
What should a token receipt say?
A token receipt should name the flat, the buyer and seller, the token amount and how it was paid, the total price, the time to complete the purchase, and when the token is refunded, such as if the title is not clear. Paying by bank transfer gives you a clean record of the payment.
What extra papers do I need if the seller inherited the flat?
Ask for the death certificate, and for the will with probate where applicable, or a succession certificate or registered release from the other legal heirs. The share certificate and society records should show the seller's name. Everyone with a share should sign, so please have an advocate confirm who the heirs are.