Land title
Subdividing titled land to sell part of it
Selling part of your land, or buying a parcel of someone else’s, is very common in Douala and Yaoundé. But a piece of land only really exists once it has been subdivided: a new land title, with its own plan, in the buyer’s name.
The rule
When part of a titled plot is sold, the original title is subdivided. Each lot is marked out by a sworn surveyor and receives its own land title and plan. The rest of the plot keeps the original title, with a smaller area.
Until the subdivision is done, the buyer’s parcel has no title in their name.
The steps
- Check the original title at the Land Registry with a certificate of ownership: the right owner, no mortgage, no objection.
- Have the parcel marked out by a sworn surveyor, who draws up the subdivision plan, approved by the land survey office.
- Depending on the municipality, obtain a planning certificate.
- Sign the deed of sale before a notary, who has it registered with the tax office and then sends the file to the land registrar.
- The registrar issues the new title in the buyer’s name and updates the original title.
Allow several months between the survey and the new title.
More than four lots is a housing estate
Dividing land into more than four lots falls under the rules on housing estates: you need a subdivision permit, issued by the mayor for a private estate, and minimum servicing. Selling lots before the permit is granted is prohibited, and the deeds can be annulled.
The most common traps
- Paying the full price on the strength of a sketch, with no survey and no notarial deed.
- Buying a parcel on a title still in the name of someone who has died: the transfer after death must come first.
- A landlocked parcel, with no access shown on the plan.
- Boundary markers placed “informally”, without a sworn surveyor.
If you are selling from abroad
Have the land surveyed and subdivided before looking for a buyer if you can. A parcel already marked out, with a clear plan, is easier to sell, and the buyer knows exactly what they are buying. You can sign at the notary’s office by power of attorney.
Buying a parcel on a larger title? Send us a clear photo of the original title and the parcel plan. We’ll check the title and tell you how to secure the subdivision.
This article gives general information. It does not replace advice from a notary or a lawyer on your own file.
Manfred Gabriel Njoh
Founder of Henser Group, consultant in Douala since 2011. He follows each file himself, from the first visit to signing at the notary’s office.
