Checking property rights and mortgages before signing the contract; all payments must be transferred with a purpose note

Before signing, ask to see the landlord's ID and property certificate. With your own ID, query the property registry about mortgages and court seizures even before a contract is signed. A pre-existing mortgage or seizure can prevent the tenancy from surviving a later auction. Transfer payments through a traceable account and record their purpose.

No cost involved. The check takes about half an hour.

The landlord must show identification and the property-title certificate, or other evidence of the right to rent, and cooperate with verification. Before signing, an applicant with ID can ask the relevant municipal or county property registry for basic property information, co-ownership, registered mortgages or residence rights, and seizures. After signing, the lease allows access to registration results. A sale normally does not end a lease, but there are exceptions: a mortgage or court seizure predating the lease can prevent a tenant from requiring an auction buyer to honor it. A court may remove a lease that obstructs an earlier mortgage before auction. Conversely, a mortgage registered after the tenant has rented and occupied the property does not defeat that tenancy. Seizure or disputed ownership that prevents use may support termination; competing third-party rights that prevent occupancy may support reduced or no rent. Paying by transfer with the property and rental period noted is the author's evidentiary practice.

A pre-contract registry inquiry does not reveal the owner's identity, so compare the name on the certificate with the landlord's ID directly. Have the landlord attend signing, or obtain authorization. Subletting requires the original landlord's written consent. If the landlord contests termination or reduced rent, court action may be needed; ordinary first-instance proceedings start at six months and lawyers are generally paid separately. Payment-purpose notes are an author practice rather than a direct legal requirement. A pre-purchase inquiry is useful for resale housing too; see item 14 for priority notices after signing.

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