Check ownership and mortgages before signing, and label every bank transfer with its purpose
Two common serious losses come from paying someone who is not the owner and renting a property already mortgaged and later seized. Check the property registration and encumbrances at the local real-estate registry. Transfer rather than pay cash, with a memo such as “September rent for [address]”; it becomes direct evidence in a dispute.
What it takes
Free; allow half an hour for the check.
What you may gain
Paying a nonowner or encountering enforcement against a previously mortgaged property can produce major losses. A transfer memo identifying the property and rental month directly documents the transaction.
Context & considerations
Ask the local real-estate registration center about ownership records. Have the owner attend signing, or obtain a written power of attorney. A sublessor should have the original owner's written consent.
Research & references
The author's experience; no direct research citation. The same evidence-preservation principle appears in Chapter 8's entries on betrothal gifts and loan acknowledgments.