Article / Document Verification
Documents to check before buying a plot
The core documents, what each one shows, where it comes from, and the red flags to look for.
On this page
Most plot disputes trace back to a document nobody checked. Collect the following, read them yourself, and have an independent property lawyer review them before you pay a significant amount.
The core documents
| Document | What it shows | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Sale deed (current owner) | How the seller acquired the land | Sub-Registrar records |
| Link documents | The chain of ownership, typically traced back about 30 years | Earlier registered deeds |
| Encumbrance certificate (EC) | Registered transactions on the property, such as sales and mortgages | Registration & Stamps Department, Telangana |
| Revenue records and pattadar passbook | Ownership and land classification in revenue records | Telangana’s land records portal (Bhu Bharati, which replaced Dharani) |
| Layout approval and approved plan | That the land was legally subdivided into plots | HMDA, DTCP or the relevant local body |
| RERA registration certificate | That the project is registered, where required | Telangana RERA portal |
| Land-use conversion proof | That agricultural land was converted for non-agricultural use | Revenue department |
| Mortgage release | That the plot is not held as security | Approving authority or lender |
Red flags
- A sale based on a General Power of Attorney without clear owner consent.
- Gaps or inconsistencies in the ownership chain.
- An EC showing a mortgage that has not been released.
- A survey number classified as government, assigned or lake land.
- A layout plan that does not match what is on the ground.
Have a lawyer check the originals
Photocopies and scans can be altered. A lawyer should compare copies against originals and official records.
Published: 10 October 2026
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