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How does the land registry work when buying a house?
Knowledge
November 12 2025
The Land Registry is the official register that records ownership rights, mortgages, and other important information about real estate in the Netherlands. If you're planning to buy a house, the Land Registry will give you certainty about who owns it and whether there are any encumbrances on the property. You can request land registry information online before purchasing a property, and after the purchase, the notary will officially register your property with the Land Registry. This article explains how the Land Registry works during the purchase process and what information you can find there.
What is the land registry and why is it important when buying a house?
The Land Registry is a public register managed by the Land Registry (officially: Land Registry and Public Registers Service). It records the ownership of every piece of land and building in the Netherlands and registers all rights and encumbrances attached to it. This includes mortgages, easements, leaseholds, and other legal rights.
If you're looking to buy a house, the land registry is important because it provides certainty about the property's legal status. You can verify that the seller is actually the owner and whether there are any financial encumbrances on the property. Imagine buying a house and later discovering that it has an unpaid mortgage, or an easement that gives your neighbor the right to walk through your yard. These are surprises you'd rather avoid.
The Land Registry protects buyers by offering transparency. All information is publicly accessible, meaning anyone can look up who owns a property and what rights are registered to it. This makes buying a home safer and prevents legal problems after the purchase.
What information can you find about a property in the land registry?
The land registry contains comprehensive information about a property. The most important details include ownership information (who is the current owner), cadastral boundaries (the exact plot boundaries), the size of the plot and the building, and all registered rights such as mortgages, easements, and leaseholds.
You can request various types of cadastral documents, each with specific information:
- Proprietary information – This extract shows who the owner is, when the property was purchased and for what amount
- Mortgage information – Here you can see whether there are any mortgages or other financial charges on the property
- Cadastral map – A map showing the exact parcel boundaries and location
- Easements – Rights that others have on the property, such as a right of way
- Ground lease – Whether the land has been leased and what the conditions are
As a buyer, it's important to understand what this information means. A mortgage on the property is common, as most people buy with borrowed money. The seller must repay this mortgage upon sale. Easements can affect how you can use the property, so it's good to be aware of them beforehand. The cadastral area gives you certainty about the actual size of your future home and garden.
How do you request land registry information when buying a house?
Requesting land registry information is easy and can be done online via the Land Registry website. You'll need the address or cadastral designation of the property to find the correct information. The process only takes a few minutes, and you'll receive the documents immediately as PDF files.
You can request different types of extracts, each with its own costs:
- Ownership information costs approximately €3,50 and gives you basic information about the owner and purchase price.
- Mortgage information costs approximately €3,50 and shows all registered mortgages and charges
- A cadastral map costs approximately €3,50 and shows the parcel boundaries
- A complete extract with all information costs approximately €8,50
The best time to request land registry information is before submitting an offer or immediately after your offer has been accepted. At that point, you want to be certain of the property's legal status before proceeding with the purchase. Many people request this information during the viewing phase so they're well-informed when they decide to submit an offer.
You can also ask your real estate agent to retrieve this information for you. This is often done as part of the purchase process, because an experienced agent knows what to look for and how to interpret the information.
What happens to the land registry after you purchase your house?
After signing the deed of sale at the notary's office, the transfer of ownership is officially registered in the land registry. The notary will take care of this registration and simultaneously register your new mortgage, if you've already taken one. This is an important moment, because from that moment on, you are officially the owner of the house.
The notary sends the deed of transfer (the official document of ownership) to the Land Registry. This is usually done digitally and is relatively quick these days. Within a few business days of the transfer, your name will be registered as the new owner in the Land Registry. Your mortgage lender will also be registered as the mortgagee, meaning they have a right to the property until you have paid off your mortgage.
The timeline usually looks like this: on the day of the transfer at the notary, the purchase price is paid and you receive the keys. The notary immediately arranges the land registry registration. Within about three to five business days, the registration is processed, and you can already see online that you are the new owner. You will also receive official confirmation from the Land Registry later.
Your ownership rights arise from the moment you sign the deed at the notary, not after the land registry registration. The land registry only records what has already legally happened. This means that you are already the full owner from the moment the deed is transferred at the notary, even if the administrative processing takes a few days.
How Your Home Makelaars helps with the land registry and your home purchase
If you're buying a house in Amsterdam or Het Gooi, we'll help you check and interpret all the land registry information. We'll ensure there are no surprises after the purchase and that all legal aspects are in order before you make a final decision.
This is how we support you in concrete terms:
- Land Registry check for every home – We request standard land registry data for properties you are seriously considering, so that you know their legal status.
- Explanation of easements – We explain what registered easements mean for your use of the house and garden
- Checking mortgages and charges – We check whether there are any mortgages or other financial charges on the property and whether these will be paid off upon sale.
- Surface control – We compare the cadastral area with what is stated in the sales information, so that you know for sure what you are buying
- Leasehold check – For leasehold properties we analyze the conditions and future costs
- Reporting of special features – We identify potential problems in land registry data that you as a buyer may overlook
Checking land registry information is a standard part of our purchase support. We want you to buy a house with peace of mind, knowing that all legal aspects have been checked. Our local knowledge of Amsterdam and the Gooi region helps us identify specific situations that are more common in these regions.
Do you want to buy a house and do you want professional guidance through the entire process, including land registry checks? View our purchasing agent services of get in touch Contact us for a no-obligation consultation. We're happy to help you find and buy your new home.
Frequently asked questions
Can I request a land registry extract myself or do I have to do this through my real estate agent?
You can easily request land registry extracts yourself via the Land Registry website, which only costs a few euros. However, it's wise to do this in collaboration with your real estate agent, as they have experience interpreting the data and can identify any unusual details that require attention. This way, you avoid overlooking important details.
What should I do if I discover an easement in the land registry that was not included in the sales information?
Discuss this directly with your real estate agent and ask the seller for clarification on the precise nature and impact of the easement. Depending on what it entails (for example, a right of way or a sewer line running through your garden), you may consider adjusting your offer or imposing additional conditions. In some cases, legal advice is advisable before proceeding with the purchase.
How long does a mortgage from the previous owner remain visible in the land registry?
The previous owner's mortgage is cancelled once it is paid off during the transfer, which the notary arranges on the day of the transfer of ownership. Within a few business days of the transfer, this cancellation is processed in the land registry, and you will only see your own (new) mortgage. It is normal for the old mortgage to remain on the property until the transfer.
What is the difference between the cadastral area and the usable area in the sales brochure?
The cadastral area refers to the total land area of the property, while the usable area (according to NEN 2580) measures the interior space of the house. It's important to check both: the cadastral area provides certainty about the garden size, while the usable area indicates how much living space you actually have. Significant discrepancies with the sales information should always be investigated.
Do I need to request land registry information again if there is a gap between my first request and the actual purchase?
Yes, it's wise to request a current land registry extract shortly before the final transfer, especially if there are more than a few months between the transfer and the final transfer. This allows you to verify that no new mortgages or other charges have been registered in the meantime. Your real estate agent and notary will usually also do this as part of their due diligence.
What happens if the cadastral data contains errors?
Errors in the land registry are rare but can occur, such as incorrect parcel boundaries or inaccurate surface areas. If you discover an error, you must report it to the Land Registry, providing supporting evidence (such as architectural drawings or survey reports). The Land Registry will investigate the report and may correct the information, which can take several weeks to months, so report this as early as possible in the purchasing process.
