When you’re considering buying property, one of the first things you should do is visit the Deeds Registry and conduct a “Deeds Search”. This will put you more at ease knowing that the property you want to invest in exists; is worth it and most importantly is being sold to you by the rightful owner.
Below are a few easy steps to help you go through the process:
- Go to the Deeds Registry. There are only two in Zimbabwe –
HARARE : Century House, East
38 Nelson Mandela Avenue
BULAWAYO : Tredgold Building
2nd Floor, Room 222
Fort Street/L.Takawira Street
- Report to the information desk, where you will find personnel ready to assist you. Inform them you would like to conduct a search.
- Give the assistant the name of the person/company that currently owns the property, and the name is run through the database for confirmation. Once the name has been confirmed the assistant will give you the registered Title Deed Number which is unique to the particular Title Deed for the particular property.
- You will then be required to write down the Title Deed Number in the Search book, and proceed to go to the Deeds Banking Hall where you will pay the search fee of $1 (NB – $1 per Search). A receipt will be issued for the transaction.
- Meanwhile, the assistant will go to the file room to search for the physical Title Deed while you wait in the Search Room. Once the Deed has been located, you will be notified and asked to produce your receipt to the police officer in the room. The Title Deed will then be handed over to you.
- The Title Deed which you are searching for will be in a large bound book. You will need to use the Title Deed Number provided to find the particular Deed you require.The Deed will have all the important information which will be useful to you, including:
- who the registered owner is
- The full description of the property – which will state where the property is physically located; the size of the property and whether there are any building conditions attached to the property
- When the property was transferred
- Reasons the property was transferred.
- The amount the property was transferred for
- The signature and official seal of the Registrar authenticating the transfer.
This exercise will help you in confirming your choice to invest in a particular property. Where you come across information on the Deed that you are unsure of, you can always get a hold of a Conveyancer to get assisted.
Once you are satisfied with the information obtained from the search, you can get in touch with your lawyer/conveyancer to assist you with the process of acquiring the property.
Source: https://www.mmmlawfirm.co.zw