Begin with the interest being sold
Ask an independent local attorney to identify the legal owner, the seller's authority and the precise interest you would acquire. Supply the advertisement, proposed contract, property address and all available title and survey documents. Ask for the searches appropriate to that country's registration system and the property's tenure.
The legal report should explain outstanding mortgages or charges, restrictions, rights affecting the land and any missing documents. Establish which matters must be resolved before completion and how that resolution will be evidenced.
Where the seller is a company, estate, trustee or attorney acting under a power of attorney, request confirmation that the person signing can bind the owner and complete the transfer.
Match the documents to the ground
Commission a surveyor to investigate the boundaries and any apparent encroachment. Ask the surveyor to relate the occupied property, access route and structures to the relevant survey and title documents. Agree the scope of that work in writing.
Inspect the access on site. Ask your attorney to establish the legal basis for using a private road or crossing another property. Find out who maintains the route, who contributes to the expense and whether the arrangement supports your intended use.
In Jamaica, the National Land Agency's eLandjamaica service provides land-information searches and access to paid documents. Ask your attorney which title, plan and registered instruments should be obtained for the parcel. [1]
Confirm planning and the existing building
Request the approvals relevant to the parcel, building and proposed use. Ask which documents establish subdivision approval, authorised construction, alterations and any required completion or occupancy status in that jurisdiction.
Trinidad and Tobago's Town and Country Planning Division describes Status of Land correspondence as addressing approvals, permitted use and whether a parcel was legally created. That makes it a useful document to discuss with the attorney and planning professional handling a local purchase. [2]
If you plan to extend, subdivide, operate a business or offer short stays, ask the appropriate authority and your advisers to establish what is permitted. Obtain their answer before valuing the property on the basis of that proposed use.
Commission the right physical inspections
Give the inspector a clear brief covering the building's age, known repairs, visible defects and your concerns. Ask which areas and systems the inspection covers and where specialist assessment may be needed.
Issues to discuss include the roof, water penetration, structural movement, drainage, retaining walls, electrical installation, plumbing, water storage, wastewater arrangements and pest activity. For a coastal property, ask about corrosion and exposure. Request photographs, identified limitations and a prioritised repair schedule.
Obtain quotations for material repairs before finalising your budget. A repair allowance becomes more useful when it states the work, responsible contractor, expected access requirements and contingency.
Leasehold, condominium and occupied property
For leasehold, ask counsel to explain the remaining term, ground rent, increases, assignment conditions, renewal provisions and any breach alleged by the landlord. Give those documents to the lender where financing is involved.
For a condominium or strata unit, request the governing documents, recent accounts, meeting records, insurance schedule, reserve information and approved major works. Establish which charges attach to the unit and whether unpaid amounts must be cleared on transfer.
For an occupied property, obtain the tenancy documents, payment record, deposit position and any notices or disputes. Ask your attorney to establish the buyer's obligations and the legal position on possession. Confirm any promised vacant handover in the contract.
Protect the deposit and completion payment
Have the attorney explain who holds the deposit, how it is held, when it can be released and the contractual refund conditions. Verify the receiving account using a contact method established independently of the payment instruction.
Ask for an itemised completion statement and a list of documents to be delivered. Check the arrangements for keys, utilities, included furniture and the condition of the property at handover. Retain the final contract, receipts, legal report and registration evidence together.
Use the land-buying checklist, off-plan guide or insurance questions for the additional work relevant to your purchase.
References
Official legislation, public guidance and lender information consulted on 2 October 2026. Confirm the requirements applicable to your transaction with the relevant authority and professional adviser.
- eLandjamaica: land information and document searchesNational Land Agency, Jamaica
- Status of Land correspondence and planning informationTown and Country Planning Division, Trinidad and Tobago
