Legal Assistance

Before finalising any property purchase in Coimbatore, verify these critical items:

• Title deed — ensure the seller has clear, marketable title going back at least 30 years • Encumbrance certificate (EC) — obtain from the sub-registrar's office for the last 13–30 years to confirm no outstanding loans or legal disputes • Patta and Chitta — verify land ownership records on the Tamil Nadu government portal (eservices.tn.gov.in) • DTCP/CMDA approved layout — verify that the plot or layout has Town Planning approval, not just panchayat approval • Occupancy certificate (OC) — confirms the building is fit for habitation and complies with building codes • RERA registration — for under-construction properties, check the project's RERA registration on the TNRERA portal (rera.tn.gov.in)

Property registration in Tamil Nadu is done at the sub-registrar's office corresponding to the property's location. Both buyer and seller (or their authorised representatives with Power of Attorney) must be present.

The process involves: drafting the sale deed, paying stamp duty and registration fees, presenting the document at the sub-registrar's office along with supporting documents, biometric verification, and collecting the registered document (typically available within 3–5 working days).

Online slot booking is available through the TNREGINET portal (tnreginet.gov.in). You can also pay stamp duty online through the same portal.

In Tamil Nadu, stamp duty is 7% of the property's market value or the sale consideration (whichever is higher). Registration charges are an additional 4% of the property value.

Total registration cost is 11% of the property value. For example, on a ₹50 lakh property in Coimbatore, you would pay ₹3.5 lakh as stamp duty and ₹2 lakh as registration charges — totalling ₹5.5 lakh.

Guideline values (government-determined minimum property values) are updated periodically by the Tamil Nadu government. If your actual transaction price is lower than the guideline value, stamp duty is calculated on the guideline value.

Watch out for these frequent issues in Coimbatore:

• Unapproved layouts — buying in a non-DTCP-approved layout can lead to issues with bank loans and resale • Revenue sites vs converted land — ensure agricultural land has been properly converted to non-agricultural use (NA order from the District Collector) • Joint ownership disputes — verify that all co-owners have consented to the sale • Pending litigation — search the court records for any cases involving the property or seller • Power of Attorney sales — be extra cautious with POA-based transactions; they are not recognised as valid sales by many banks and can be challenged in court

While not legally mandatory, hiring a property lawyer is strongly recommended for transactions above ₹25 lakh, properties with complex title histories, resale properties older than 15 years, or any property involving multiple sellers or inherited property.

A good property lawyer in Coimbatore will help verify documents and protect your investment. They will verify the title chain, draft or review the sale deed, coordinate with the sub-registrar's office, and ensure all necessary clearances are in place. This investment can save you from disputes worth crores down the line.