A residential plot can give you flexibility over the design and timing of a future home, but only if the land is legally suitable for your intended use. Before buying a plot in Mohali or Kharar, verify the title, approved layout, permitted land use, access, development status and total cost. A low asking price is not a substitute for due diligence.
1. Confirm who owns the plot
Ask the seller for the registered conveyance or sale deed and relevant earlier title documents. A property lawyer should trace the ownership chain, check whether all co-owners have consented and verify the seller’s authority to sell. For inherited or jointly owned land, additional succession, consent or authority documents may be needed.
For land where revenue records apply, review available records through the official Punjab Land Records portal. Revenue entries are useful evidence, but they do not replace a full legal title review.
2. Verify land use and layout approval
Confirm the planning authority responsible for the exact location and obtain the relevant approved layout, licence or development permissions as applicable. Ask whether the plot is authorised for residential use and whether any Change of Land Use (CLU) permission or other approval is required. Do not assume that a plot is buildable because nearby houses already exist.
Where the plot is part of a covered real estate project, search the official Punjab RERA project records and compare the offered plot with the project’s disclosures. RERA requirements and exemptions depend on the facts and applicable provisions.
3. Match the plot on paper to the plot on site
- Check the plot number, dimensions, area and boundaries against the documents and approved plan.
- Ask how the plot is demarcated and whether a survey is appropriate.
- Verify legal access from a public road or an established right of way.
- Check the width and condition of access roads and whether utilities are available or only proposed.
- Inspect drainage, water supply, electricity access and surrounding development.
Visit at different times if possible. Speak to nearby residents about practical issues such as waterlogging, access and services, while independently verifying important claims.
4. Investigate mortgages, disputes and unpaid dues
Ask your lawyer to check relevant registration records and available encumbrance information for mortgages, transfers, claims or disputes. If a lender has an interest in the land, confirm the release process before completing the purchase. Request property tax receipts and written confirmation of any development or maintenance dues, where applicable.
5. Calculate the total acquisition cost
Do not budget only for the plot price. Include applicable stamp duty and registration fees, legal fees, brokerage if any, survey or demarcation costs, loan charges, development or maintenance charges and future construction expenses. Confirm current government charges with the relevant registration office; do not rely on an old online percentage.
6. Understand what you can build
Before paying a non-refundable amount, ask the relevant authority or a qualified architect about applicable setbacks, floor-area rules, height restrictions, building plan approval and other conditions. The permissible construction can vary by planning area, colony, plot type and current rules.
7. Review the agreement before paying
The agreement should identify the exact property, agreed consideration, payment schedule, completion conditions, responsibility for dues, documents to be handed over and consequences if either party defaults. Avoid large cash payments and obtain a written receipt for every payment. Use a qualified property lawyer independent of the seller.
Printable plot checklist
- Seller identity and authority verified.
- Title chain reviewed by a lawyer.
- Relevant land and registration records checked.
- Residential land use and approved layout verified.
- Plot dimensions and boundaries confirmed.
- Legal road access and utilities assessed.
- Mortgages, disputes and dues investigated.
- Current registration charges and total costs budgeted.
- Agreement reviewed before advance payment.
- Applicable project registration and approvals checked.
For a broader comparison of property types, read Aqlet Realty’s plot vs flat guide for Kharar and the complete property buying guide for Mohali.
Explore residential plots
If you are comparing plots, visit Aqlet Realty’s plots page and share your location, budget and plot-size requirements. Ask for the documents and current availability for each specific option before deciding.
Disclaimer: This checklist is informational and does not replace title verification by a qualified property lawyer or approval confirmation from the relevant authority.