Property Verification & Documentation Lawyers in Karachi

Verify a property before you pay

Checking the title is the most important step before buying property in Karachi. There is no single online portal covering all Karachi properties: DHA, KDA, MDA, cooperative societies, Cantonment Boards and the Board of Revenue each keep their own records, and the office that matters depends on the scheme or area the property is in.

Where the record is checked

• DHA plots and houses — DHA Transfer Office: current allottee or owner on record, NOCs issued, and any holds or disputes flagged.
• KDA scheme plots — the KDA records office: allotment and transfers on file.
• MDA schemes — MDA records.
• Cooperative societies — the society's share register, and the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Sindh for litigation or winding-up orders.
• Cantonment areas — the Clifton, Malir or Karachi Cantonment Board.
• Revenue and agricultural land — Board of Revenue Sindh through the district revenue office and Patwari.
• Property registered at the Sub-Registrar — a Non-Encumbrance Certificate (NEC).

The Board of Revenue Sindh runs an online record at sindhzameen.gos.pk, searchable by CNIC, name or khewat number; it holds entries made after 1985. It mainly covers revenue land — KDA and housing society lease plots in Karachi are often not in it, so their records still have to be checked with the authority or society concerned.

What the Non-Encumbrance Certificate shows

The NEC, issued by the Sub-Registrar, lists the registered documents against the property — sale deeds, mortgages and court attachment orders. It does not reveal unregistered transactions or informal arrangements, which is why it is one part of due diligence, not the whole.

Warning signs we look for

• The seller's name does not match the current record.
• Several mortgages appear on the NEC.
• A court attachment order is registered against the property.
• Mutation is pending or disputed.
• The property is in two names without clarity on shares.
• The society NOC is withheld over a dispute or unpaid dues.

If any of these appear, do not proceed without legal advice.

Documents that protect the transaction

Agreement to sell

An agreement to sell (biana) records the terms of a property transaction before the formal sale deed. We draft agreements that clearly set out the price, payment schedule, possession date, conditions and consequences of default — protecting both parties.

Lease and tenancy agreements

Our lease and tenancy agreements cover rent, deposit, maintenance obligations, permitted use, renewal terms, and termination procedures. A well-drafted lease prevents the majority of landlord-tenant disputes before they arise.

Powers of attorney for property

Where a property transaction must be managed by someone acting on your behalf, we draft specifically limited Powers of Attorney that authorise only the necessary actions, with clear safeguards against misuse.

Verification from abroad

A lawyer with a properly executed authority can conduct the verification on your behalf — useful for overseas Pakistanis who cannot visit the offices themselves.

Once the title is clear, see property registration and transfer for the sale deed and mutation, or read the full guide on how to check property and land records in Karachi.