Main documents when selling a property:
Property document: This is the main document certifying the right of ownership of the property. Most often, this is a notarial deed, but it can also be a purchase contract from the municipality or the state, a voluntary partition contract, a notarial deed, a decree of assignment or a court decision.
Cadastral scheme or sketch of the property: Issued by the Agency for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre (AGKK). For areas without a valid cadastral map, the sketch is issued by the relevant municipality. It is important to note that the cadastral scheme has no validity period if there are no changes in the data, while the sketch from the municipality is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance.
Tax Assessment Certificate: This document is issued by the Local Taxes and Fees Office at the municipal administration at the property address. The certificate must be issued in the same calendar year and certify the absence of unpaid tax liabilities.
Certificate of Encumbrances: Also known as a certificate of entries, notes and deletions for the property, this document is issued by the Registry Agency and contains information about all entries in the property's lot in the Property Register. It is recommended that it be issued immediately before the transaction, with the verification period covering at least 10 years in the past.
Certificate of marital status of the sellers: It is issued by ESGRAON and it is recommended that it be up to date on the date of the sale to ensure the accuracy of the information.
Certificate of the presence or absence of public obligations: Issued by the National Revenue Agency (NRA) and certifies whether the seller has unpaid public obligations. The validity of this document is 1 month.
Payment documents for paid consumables and overhead costs: Although not mandatory by law, it is common practice to present paid bills for electricity, water, heating, gas and maintenance fees to ensure that the buyer has no outstanding obligations.
Energy efficiency certificate: According to the latest amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act, when selling buildings or individual units in buildings, it is mandatory to present an energy efficiency certificate. From January 1, 2025, the energy efficiency certificate is a key component in preparing real estate valuations, which is why appraisers are required to include it in their reports. Regulation RD-02-20-3 of 9 November 2022 sets out the minimum requirements for the energy performance of new and existing buildings in Bulgaria. It introduces mandatory energy efficiency standards that must be met during the design, construction and renovation of buildings. An energy efficiency certificate is mandatory for new buildings, as well as for real estate after major renovation or reconstruction.
Certificate of tolerance: For constructions carried out before 31.03.2001 without available construction documents, a certificate of tolerance is issued by the relevant municipality, which certifies that the building is not subject to demolition. Certificate of identity of the property or administrative address: In case of discrepancies in the data about the property, such a certificate may be requested.
Certificate of absence or presence of filed enforcement cases: In case of doubts about the seller's obligations to third parties, the buyer may request this certificate from the Central Register of Debtors, kept by the Chamber of Private Enforcement Agents.
Mortgage Discharge Letter: If there is a mortgage on the property, the lender must issue a letter of commitment to discharge it before or during the transaction.
Court permission for sale by a minor or a person under guardianship: In such cases, a court permission from the District Court of the owner's place of residence is required, which contains the conditions for carrying out the transaction, including the price and method of payment.