Land registry (registo predial)
Updated on
The registo predial is the public register, kept by the land registry offices, showing who owns each property and which rights and encumbrances exist over it.
The registo predial exists to make the legal status of properties public, for the protection of those who buy and sell (Land Registry Code, article 1). It records ownership, , , and other facts.
Two rules explain its importance. Facts subject to registration only take effect against third parties once registered (article 5). And the right entered first prevails over later ones, in date order (article 6). That is why registration dates decide which rights survive an enforcement sale.
Registration is mandatory and must be requested within two months of the date of the title (article 8-C). A late request means paying the fee twice over (article 8-D).
Example
Illustrative example: a buyer receives the on 10 March. They have until 10 May to request registration of the acquisition, if registration has not been arranged by whoever ran the sale.
In practice, at an auction
Before: consult the registry through the .
After: in civil enforcement, the reports the sale to the registry, which registers the acquisition and cancels lapsed entries of its own motion (CPC article 827(2)). In Tax Authority sales, cancellation of lapsed entries is ordered by the tax enforcement body if the buyer has not already requested it (CPPT article 260); check with the tax office who requests registration of the acquisition.
Registry fees change from time to time: confirm the current cost with the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN). See The costs of buying at auction.