Number of the month: €20

Cheaper than an identity card

Anyone wanting to buy a property and finance it with a bank loan needs a land register extract. The legally regulated fee for a certified copy is €20. A bargain, then, considering that applying for an identity card at the citizens' registration office costs €28.80 (or €22.80 for people under 24).

A land register extract can be requested in writing or in person from the relevant land registry office, but only by persons with a "legitimate interest." Besides the owner of a property, this includes, among others, lenders, creditors, heirs, notaries, and prospective buyers who can already present a draft purchase agreement. Before concluding a purchase agreement, it is extremely important for property buyers to know what entries exist in the land register, such as mortgages or third-party rights of residence. The lending bank also examines the land register extract very closely as part of its loan assessment.

A simple – i.e., uncertified – land register extract costs only €10, and there are no fees for simply viewing the land register. Banks, however, generally require a certified copy. It is also advisable to have a notary apply for the land register extract if, for example, the notary is already tasked with drafting a purchase agreement. Notaries can request land register extracts electronically. Ordering the land register extract online yourself is less practical. While possible, it incurs additional costs of approximately €25, charged by external service providers for their service, which simply consists of forwarding your application to the land registry office.

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