Before you sign
Title deeds in Algeria, explained
Every sale on Buyutkom names its deed. This is what each one means for what you would actually own.
4 min read
Livret foncier
The strongest title: the property is entered in the land register with its boundaries surveyed. A notarised sale of a property that has its livret foncier is the clean case, and the one a bank will finance without a second look.
Acte notarié without a livret
A notarised deed exists but the property is not yet in the land register. Common in older districts and for homes built before registration reached the area. Not a reason to walk away, but ask the notary what registration will take and who pays for it.
Social housing: AADL, LPP, LSP, LPA
A home allocated under a public programme carries a restriction on resale for a number of years from the allocation. A listing here states whether resale is restricted and the date from which it becomes free. Buying before that date is buying a promise, not a home.
Indivision
The property belongs to several people, often heirs, and every co-owner must sign the sale. It is separate from the deed: a property with a livret foncier can still be in indivision. A listing here flags it on its own line.
What to ask the notary
Before any money moves, the notary should be able to show you:
- The deed itself, in the seller’s name.
- Whether the property is registered, and if not, what registration will take.
- Any mortgage or charge recorded against it.
- That every owner is signing, in person or by a verified power of attorney.
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