The documents you need to sell in the province of Bolzano

The first document is the land register extract

In a single page the land register extract says three things: what the property is (section A), who holds it and in what shares (section B) and what burdens it — mortgages, usufructs, easements, rights of residence, restrictions (section C). Everything else in the file follows from what it says.

It is requested from the Province's Land Register and Cadastre Department; several municipalities and district communities issue it free of charge to the owner. Asking for it before going on the market, rather than after accepting an offer, leaves time to deal with whatever emerges.

The title of provenance

This is the document showing how the property came into the estate: the deed of purchase, the gift, or — where it comes from an inheritance — the succession declaration together with the land registry decree that registered the transfer. It often happens that a succession has been declared for tax but never completed in the land register: until it is, the sale cannot go through.

The cadastre and the floor plan

The cadastral search and the deposited floor plan are both needed, and the plan must match the property as it stands: a wall moved, a veranda enclosed, a bathroom made where the drawing shows a store are discrepancies for a surveyor to put right before the deed.

In the deed the seller declares that the cadastral data and the floor plan match the actual state of the property, and an untrue declaration can render the deed void. It is also the check the buyer's bank carries out.

Building permits and habitability

The building permits — licence or concession, planning permission, any notifications and regularisations — and the habitability certificate all need to be recovered. They are requested from the municipal technical office, which keeps the file. On historic buildings, numerous in this province, the file can be incomplete: one more reason to start collecting early.

Energy certificate, condominium, mortgage

In the province of Bolzano the energy certificate must be attached to the contract: without it the contract can be declared void and penalties apply. If the property is in a condominium, the rules, the thousandths tables and a statement from the manager on charges paid and works approved are also needed.

If a mortgage still burdens the property, it is entered in section C and has to be removed: paying off the debt does not remove it. Removal from the land register has its own timescales, which belong in the calendar for the deed.

Documents concerning the people

Identity document and tax code for every seller, and the matrimonial property regime for those who are married: under community of property the other spouse's consent is required, and that is best known before signing a preliminary contract. Where a company or a minor is selling, or a support administrator is involved, the relevant authorisations are needed and the timescales lengthen.