Selling a property in Cork Checklist

Selling your property in Cork or West Cork can be an exciting but complex journey. To ensure everything goes smoothly, it’s essential to have your legal paperwork in order before putting your property on the market. Here’s our comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you navigate the legal side of selling your home in West Cork. Check out our full comprehensive guide to selling a house in Ireland here

Guide to help you navigate the legal side of selling a property in West Cork

Locate your title deeds of your property in Cork

The first step in selling your property is to know where your Title Deeds are. Your solicitor typically holds these documents, but it’s a good idea to confirm their location. Having them easily accessible will prevent unnecessary delays down the line.

Tip: Ring your solicitor and ensure they have the Title Deeds ready or can obtain them from the bank or other parties if necessary. This is particularly important when selling property in West Cork, where rural land ownership and title deeds can sometimes involve more complexities.

Contact your solicitor

Before putting your property on the market, set up a meeting with your solicitor. During this meeting, you can identify and address any potential legal issues in advance. Whether it’s an ownership dispute or a boundary issue, it’s better to handle these concerns early to avoid complications later.

Tip: A proactive conversation with your solicitor can save you time and money during the sales process, especially in rural areas like West Cork, where property boundaries and land titles may sometimes be less straightforward.

Prepare your local property tax history

Make sure your Local Property Tax (LPT) payments are up to date. You can print your LPT payment history from the Revenue’s website. This document shows that all taxes related to the property have been paid and reassures buyers that no outstanding debts are associated with the property.

Tip: Keeping your LPT records readily available ensures potential buyers won’t encounter any legal obstacles when purchasing your home in West Cork, whether it’s a coastal retreat or a rural farmhouse.

Obtain NPPR Tax certification

If you owned the property between 2009 and 2013, you’ll need a certificate confirming you’ve paid the Non-Principal Private Residence (NPPR) tax. This was a tax charged on properties that were not the owner’s principal residence during this period. Contact your local County Council or check online through resources like housing.gov.ie, nppr.ie, or corkcoco.ie to ensure compliance.

Register your septic tank

If your property uses a septic tank, make sure it is registered. You can do this quickly online at protectourwater.ie. Having a registered septic tank is a legal requirement and failing to comply may cause delays or even jeopardise your sale.

Tip: Ensure that any environmental and waste management requirements for your property are in order to give buyers peace of mind, especially if your West Cork home is in a rural or coastal setting where septic tanks are common.

Get A BER Certificate

A Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate is mandatory for selling property in Ireland. This certificate gives potential buyers an indication of how energy efficient the property is. If you don’t have one, hire an assessor to evaluate your property and provide the certification.

Tip: Improving your BER rating with small upgrades, such as better insulation or energy-efficient windows, can make your West Cork property more attractive to buyers, particularly if they are looking for energy-efficient homes.

Verify compliance for extensions and renovations

If you’ve added any extensions or made renovations since 1st October 1964, you’ll need an engineer to verify that these changes comply with the original planning permission and building regulations. If the work was carried out without planning permission, you may need to apply for Retention Permission.

In some cases, the work may have been exempt from planning permission, but only a qualified engineer can confirm this for you.

Tip: Having this documentation in order reassures buyers that your West Cork property is legally compliant and reduces the risk of sale delays. This is especially important if you’ve added extensions like sunrooms, extra bedrooms, or outdoor areas to take advantage of West Cork’s stunning landscapes.

Avoid delays when selling your property

By following this checklist, you can streamline the process of selling your property in West Cork and avoid many of the common pitfalls that cause delays and frustration. The smoother the transaction, the more appealing your property will be to prospective buyers.

Taking care of these legal details will not only speed up the sale but will also make the process less stressful for everyone involved.

Thinking of selling your property in West Cork?

Thinking of selling your property in Cork or West Cork? Contact DNG Galvin today for a free, no-obligation property valuation. Let our expert team guide you through the selling process, ensuring a smooth experience and the best possible price for your property.