Par Zwandako 
Three important documents confer the right of ownership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Firstly, there is the plot sheet, which is obtained from the urban commune in large agglomerations and at the level of the territory in rural areas. The rental contract is the second real estate title issued by the State through the Ministry of Town Planning and Housing. In the end, comes the registration certificate which is a definitive title deed granted exclusively by the Ministry of Land Affairs.
Vigilance, vigilance, vigilance, no shortcuts.
Real estate title deeds are not granted in just any way and by just anyone. Many people, for lack of information, often confide in the various agents of the State in the hope of easily acquiring documents likely to confer on them the right of owner on immovable property and, if necessary, on plots belonging to both. to the State than to individuals.
This process is irregular, and many of those who have done so have ended up falling into the hands of anarchists or outright crooks.
Here is a series of documents to carry with you and supposed to be required by law:
1. the plot sheet
This is a document used by the services of the Ministry of the Interior to identify the inhabitants of a municipality. This document increasingly plays a crucial role in land acquisition by identifying the previous owner of the plot. In an urban constituency, the plot file is kept and managed by the district chief, under the supervision of the bourgmestre.
Note that up to this level, the registrar of land titles does not yet know the buyer.
2. the identification number or cadastral number.
Any portion of subdivided land bears an identification number. This number does not in any way constitute a title deed in itself, and does not give you any right to occupy the plot. As its name suggests, the cadastral number is granted by the cadastral division.
3. The Rental Agreement.
Do not confuse the rental agreement with the “lease agreement”. The rental agreement is a document that the state grants to a third party, allowing that third party to legally dispose of land that it has acquired. With this contract, the so-called owner of the plot has a period of 3 years to make the acquired land viable. Beyond this time, the state has the right to reclaim its land, grant it to someone else or use it for other purposes.
However, the state can renew the lease for a period of two years if the concessionaire requests it at least 3 months before the end of the previous lease. Also note that the rental contract is issued exclusively by the Registrar of Real Estate Titles (at the Ministry of Land Affairs).
4. Authorization to build?
As the name suggests, the authorization to build is not and can never be transformed into a title deed. It only gives you permission to build on the land or plot acquired. The building permit is issued to the Ministry of Town Planning and Housing, but at two different skill levels. If the building to be constructed is an ordinary building, use the urban division; but if the building is to be built on an upper floor, refer to the National Department of Town Planning and Housing.
5. The Certificate of Registration.
The registration certificate is the final title deed; it is issued to Land Affairs. The registrar of land titles signs it and assigns it to the applicant after the technical work carried out by the land registry services through the surveyors. This certificate is only granted for plots already developed.
Author: Jean Didier Mwakomokebi | Copyright: immordc.net – February 2008 | Photo credit: barnes
