Overview property documents

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Here is our checklist of all documents needed to sell your property. With this extensive overview of all required documents, you can get started early and be well prepared.

If you're still missing something, worry not. We can sort that out hassle-free with a power of attorney when you commission propwise with the sale of your property.
Land register ("Grundbuch")
The land register shows who owns what in Germany. It is a publicly maintained register in which the legal and ownership relationships of real estate and land are recorded. A copy of this document can be obtained in digital form from any notary. The version should not be older than three months.

Most banks do require this document for their credit assessment. Many buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Dimensioned floor plan ("Bemaßter Grundriss")
In contrast to the visually optimized floor plan from the exposé, a dimensioned floor plan is drawn more precisely and provided with the necessary dimensional chains. You, as the current owner, should usually possess this document. The dimensions can also be added to an existing floor plan alternatively. We recommend, however, that an architect creates the floor plan. That reduces your liability for the correctness of the information. The bank or lender financing the purchase may also not accept it otherwise.

Most banks do require this document for their credit assessment. Many buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Energy certificate ("Energieausweis")
An energy certificate certifies the energy efficiency of a building. The certificate is mandatory for new buildings, property sales, new leases and redevelopments. If you don't yet have the Energy certificate, the management company or the previous owner should be able to provide it. In some cases, when no up-to-date energy certificate exists, this document has to be created by an energy consultant.

Most banks do require this document for their credit assessment. Many buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Floor area calculation ("Wohnflächenberechnung")
The floor area calculation is the sum of all eligible floor areas of the rooms that belong to a property or apartment. The document is presented in a tabular format and provides the dimensions and floor area of each room. Many banks require this document to be endorsed and stamped by an architect. In many cases, it has to be created from scratch as it may not yet exist for many properties.

Most banks do require this document for their credit assessment. Many buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Encumbrance registry ("Baulastenauskunft")
A building encumbrance is an obligation under public law between the property owner and the responsible building authority. The information from the building encumbrance register informs you about possible restrictions on the plot of land.It can be obtained from the local Bauamt. (In Berlin it can take up to 4 weeks to receive this document.)

Most banks do require this document for their credit assessment. Many buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Cataster map ("Flurkarte")
The map shows the location of land plots, their development and other official data.
If you, as the current owner or the management company do not possess this document, a copy of the cadaster map can be requested from the local Real Estate Cadaster Office (Liegenschaftskatasteramt) of the municipality where the property is located.

Most banks do require this document for their credit assessment. Many buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Building view ("Ansichten / Schnitte")
A view drawing is a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional body, such as a building. These are in the case of drawings in architecture or construction, drawings of the facade of the property, and also drawings from different angles.

Though some banks may ask for it, it is usually not an essential document for the bank's mortgage assessment but certainly favourable to have.
Property tax bill ("Grundsteuerbescheid")
The declaration of division refers to the declaration to the land registry that the property is divided into co-ownership shares. The declaration of division regulates the formal division of a building and the rights and obligations of the individual owners. There are often amendments to the original declaration of division which are also essential for the mortgage assessment. This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.
You, as the current property owner should usually, have a copy of this document on file. If you don't have it the management company should also have a copy of the declaration of division.

This document is often required for the bank's mortgage assessment. Some buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Declaration of division ("Teilungserklärung")
"The declaration of division refers to the declaration to the land registry that the property is divided into co-ownership shares. The declaration of division regulates the formal division of a building and the rights and obligations of the individual owners. There are often amendments to the original declaration of division which are also essential for the mortgage assessment. This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.
You, as the current property owner should usually, have a copy of this document on file. If you don't have it the management company should also have a copy of the declaration of division.

This document is often required for the bank's mortgage assessment. Some buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence.  "
Division plan ("Aufteilungsplan")
"A division plan (also known as a partition plan) is a construction drawing that shows the parts of a building that belong to all owners (common property) as well as the location and size of the condominiums (""separate property"").
This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.
You, as the current property owner should usually, have a copy of the division plan on file. Typically, this document should be attached to the declaration of division but it is often missing especially when the building was subdivided before the 1990s). The management company should also have this. If not, the local building authority (Bauamt) will always have the original copy of this plan which can be photographed after requesting an appointment.

This document is often required for the bank's mortgage assessment. Some buyers will also ask for it for their information and due diligence. "
Current yearly budget plan ("Wirtschaftsplan")
The individual budget plan of a condominium provides its owners with information about the costs they can expect for the current financial year. In addition, it forms the basis for the monthly house allowance, which is sometimes also referred to as housing allowance.
This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.
You, as the current property owner should usually, have received a copy of the budget plan from the management company. Should you not have it on file, the management company should be able to provide a copy.

This document isn't required for the bank's mortgage assessment. Some buyers will however ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Future yearly budget ("Wirtschaftsplan")
"The individual budget plan of a condominium provides its owners with information about the costs they can expect for the coming financial year. In addition, it forms the basis for the monthly house allowance, which is sometimes also referred to as housing allowance.
This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.
You, as the current property owner should usually, have received a copy of the budget plan from the management company. Should you not have it on file, the management company should be able to provide a copy.

This document isn't required for the bank's mortgage assessment. Some buyers will however ask for it for their information and due diligence. "
Annual statement ("Jahresabrechnung")
The annual statement consists of the general and individual statements for each condominium owner, whereby the distribution of income and expenses among the individual owners is to be carried out according to the statutory, the differently agreed or adopted distribution key.
It shows if there was a surplus or deficit when comparing last year's prepayments (""Hausgeld"") and the actual expenses for that year? The management company should have the annual statement. This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.

This document isn't required for the bank's mortgage assessment. Some buyers will however ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Common fund ("Erhaltungsrücklage")
The common fund (also called maintenance reserve) is the savings pot that apartment or house owners fall back on when repairs are needed. The German Condominium Act (Wohnungseigentumsgesetz, WEG) recommends setting up a maintenance reserve, but it is not required by law.
It gives information about how high the common fund is that the owner's community currently has for future investments.
The management company should have this information. This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.

This document isn't required for the bank's mortgage assessment. Some buyers will however ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Protocols of past owners' meetings ("Protokolle Eigentümerversammlung")
The resolutions passed by the owners of a condominium owners' meeting are summarized in the minutes of the meeting. Pursuant to German law (§24 WEG), a record of the resolutions passed must be made at each owners' meeting.
The management company should have a copy of the Protocols of the past owners' meetings. This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.

This document isn't required for the bank's mortgage assessment. Many buyers will however ask for it for their information and due diligence.
Invitation to upcoming owners' meeting ("Einladung zur Eigentümerversammlung")
The management company should have this document. This document typically does only exist for apartments, not for houses.
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