A possession certificate is an important document that verifies that the possession rights of the property have changed hands and the possession has been moved from the seller to the buyer. This certificate has to be produced to the buyer stating the date of possession.
Generally, the property or land possession certificate is dispensed by the Tahsildar in rural areas. In urban areas, it is issued by the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO). To put it simply, this certificate signifies that the property has been shifted from one person to another and specifies that the terms related to the agreement of sales has been fulfilled between the buyer and seller.
Further, this certificate plays a vital role in case of loans and helps the buyer get home financing from a lender basis the property and its value. The certificate may also consist of the timeline within which the buyer has to make the final payment to the seller.
There may be situations under which you may have accepted the possession of a property, but eventually realize that you are not content or satisfied about the condition of the property. This can happen on account of various aspects like faulty construction, usage of different construction materials than previously discussed, poor quality of construction, etc. When faced with such a situation you, as a buyer of the property, can issue a conditional possession letter to the seller.
Through this letter you can specify your dissatisfaction regarding the property, mentioning all pertinent details. Apart from noting the problems, you can ask the seller or builder to make necessary changes as per the agreement. In case the seller or builder does not address the issue or comply with terms, you have the power to take the matter to court based on the conditional possession certificate. In short, the conditional possession letter is your note of grievance for the builder or seller, which formalizes your dissatisfaction towards the property in your possession and binds them legally to remedy the situation.
The steps you need to follow to submit your property or land possession certificate usually varies across states. However, the basic process remains the same all across India. Sadly, obtaining possession certificate online or land possession certificate online is not possible. You can only download the application form for possession certificate online and digitally check your application status.
Here is an overview of the process you can follow to apply for a land or property possession certificate.
You can then view your application status online on the Revenue and Land Reforms office’s portal using these details. Further, you will be given a date on which you will have to visit your Anchaladhikari or Right to Public Service (RTPS) office to collect your possession certificate.
To obtain a possession certificate you will need a number of documents. Even though you may have to furnish a few additional documents for certain states, depending on the local rules, the basic documents remain the same all across. They are:
Along with these documents, submit a copy of the filled application form and the registered lease or sale deed agreement for the property. These documents inform the government about the property details and its legalities, which when accounted for, helps them furnish the possession certificate in the buyer’s name.
Also Read: Encumbrance Certificate
