Free property title: these are the requirements to obtain it without proof of land

The Informal Property Formalization Agency (Cofopri) has launched its free campaign ‘Registered Lot, for the desired title’ with the aim of urbanizing areas of Peru.

This initiative will be in effect throughout 2024 and officials plan to visit more than 100,000 urban lots in the country so that citizens can obtain their property title for free and without the need to have any proof of possession.

What are the requirements to obtain the free property title?

Alberto Rafael Sanabria, deputy director of Registration of the Individual Formalization Directorate of Cofopri, declared for Andina that it is essential to prove the effective, calm, constant and public possession of the land by the occupant, at least one year before the date of registration. In this way, the requirements that must be presented to the staff are the following:

• National identity document (DNI)
• Bills for services such as water, electricity, telephone, local taxes or others that demonstrate the occupation and time of possession of the property.
• Purchase and sale contract, property title, certificate of possession or other documents that identify them as owners of the land.

Sanabria emphasized that the possession certificate provided by municipal authorities is not the only means to demonstrate ownership of the land, since the regulations admit other documents that confirm the identity and time of possession of the occupants.

“When evaluating the files for titling, these documents are just as valid as any service invoice or private contracts that specify the date and name of the occupants,” the official clarified.

Property title: additional requirements

• Not be located in areas of non-mitigatable risk.
• Do not occupy reserved or protected areas.
• Not having a judicial process pending.

How can I prove my possession if I don’t have documents?

It is important to note that, in cases where there are no documents proving ownership of the property, exceptionally, the census taker may accept a sworn statement from at least four neighbors who recognize the person as the owner of the home.

Likewise, it is emphasized that, if a situation of force majeure prevents the presence of the interested party at the time of registration, he can appoint someone he trusts through a simple power of attorney to represent his lot in said process.

The individual formalization phase, which allows each lot to be separated in favor of its holders, is achieved after completing the technical and legal work necessary for the comprehensive formalization of the settlements and the subsequent registration in the public registries of the corresponding plans.

This process is carried out massively, that is, including the entire human settlement or population center without the need for an individual request from the inhabitants. First, a diagnosis and physical-legal sanitation of the area in question is carried out, followed by registration, which is a step within the individual formalization procedure.

The free registration campaign ‘Lot registered by the desired title’ seeks to complete the formalization of housing in human settlements nationwide with the purpose of registering property titles in Sunarp in the name of the owners.