WHAT IS IN THE LAND REGISTER AND WHERE CAN I INSPECT IT?

The land register plays a very important role in every property sale and purchase. It contains a great deal of information about the property. The land register is a public register covering all plots in the respective land register district.

HOW IS THE LAND REGISTER STRUCTURED?

The land register is structured as follows:

• Inventory of properties – contains the plot data, parcels, any rights of way and co-ownership shares in other plots.
• Ownership (Section I) – shows the respective owners and their ownership relationships with one another.
• Encumbrances/easements/restrictions (Section II) – for example, rights of way and access, utility line rights, usufruct, rights of first refusal, real burdens or a hereditary building right can be recorded here.
• Registered charges on land (Section III) – here you will find the registered land charges and mortgages. A land charge may be registered without any outstanding debt being secured by it. Under certain conditions the land charge can be deleted in the course of the property sale. It is important that the purchase price is higher than the land charge still secured.

INSPECT A CURRENT LAND REGISTER EXTRACT WHEN BUYING A PROPERTY

Every plot has its own land register folio. There is a land register for plain plots or plots with a detached house, and for condominiums there is the so-called condominium land register / partial ownership land register.

Its structure corresponds to the land register for plain plots. In addition, the condominium / partial ownership land register records the respective co-ownership shares in the common plot and property, the associated separate property rights, special rights of use and restrictions.

AT WHICH AUTHORITY CAN THE LAND REGISTER BE INSPECTED?

The land register is kept at the land registry, which is usually located at the local court (Amtsgericht). Anyone who can demonstrate a legitimate interest may request to inspect it or obtain an extract for the plot or apartment in question.

Courts, authorities, banks and notaries can inspect the land register online.

ADDRESS AND OPENING HOURS OF THE LAND REGISTRY IN OFFENBACH

The land registry for the city of Offenbach:

Amtsgericht Offenbach – Grundbuchamt

Kaiserstraße 16 - 18 63065 Offenbach am Main Phone: +49 (69) 8057-0 Fax: +49 (69) 8057-5001

Opening hours:

Monday to Thursday 08:00 - 16:00 Friday 08:00 - 14:30

(Source: https://ordentliche-gerichtsbarkeit.hessen.de/AG-Offenbach)

You can order the land register extract in writing or by fax and it will be sent to you directly. Please note that processing times can vary considerably.

For data protection reasons, your legitimate interest will be checked. As owner, you should identify yourself with your ID card; as a prospective buyer, it is best to bring a power of attorney from the owner and, of course, your ID.

If you want to inspect the land register file on site (e.g. the declaration of division), you must order it two days in advance by phone or fax.

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