Property

You can apply to register your property with the Land Registry under the Registration of Title Act 1964. First-time registration is voluntary in most areas but mandatory in certain counties and for specific transactions.

Yes, a contract for the sale of land in Ireland must be in writing and signed by the parties or their authorised agents.

Freehold means outright ownership of land and any buildings on it, with no time limit. Leasehold means you own the right to use the property for a fixed period under a lease agreement.

A vendor in Ireland must deliver a good, marketable title to the buyer at completion, as required by the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009.

The Land Registry in Ireland guarantees the title of registered owners under section 31 of the Registration of Title Act 1964, meaning the State indemnifies them against loss caused by errors or omissions in the register.

Yes, you generally need planning permission for an extension in Ireland, unless it qualifies as exempted development under the Planning and Development Act 2000.

In Ireland, you generally cannot build without planning permission — but some small or exempted developments may not require it under the Planning and Development Act 2000.

If a builder fails to comply with building regulations in Ireland, the local authority can issue an enforcement notice under section 152 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to require remedial works or demolition.

Yes, you can subdivide your property for development in Ireland, but only with planning permission from your local authority under the Planning and Development Act 2000.

In Ireland, boundary disputes are resolved through the Land Registry under the Registration of Title Act 1964. You can apply to have the precise boundary determined and registered.

Under Irish law, you may cut back branches or roots of your neighbour's tree that overhang or intrude onto your property, up to the boundary line — but you must not trespass or damage the tree itself.

A right of way is a legal right to pass over another person’s land for access. In Ireland, it can be established by express grant, implication, or long use — but since 1 December 2009, new prescriptive rights of way can no longer be acquired by mere use alone.

Yes, you may apply to the Circuit Court to remove or modify a restrictive covenant under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009, but only if it is obsolete, contrary to public interest, or no longer serves its original purpose.

Yes, you may claim a prescriptive easement over your neighbour's land in Ireland if you have used it openly, continuously, and without permission for at least 12 years before 1 December 2009, or for 12 years after that date under the new rules.

Yes, the Irish government can compulsorily acquire your land for public purposes under the Planning and Development Act 2000, but only following strict legal procedures and with fair compensation.

A lis pendens is a formal notice registered against a property to warn that legal proceedings affecting its ownership or rights are pending. In Ireland, it prevents the owner from selling or mortgaging the property without disclosing the claim.

If your property is affected by a compulsory purchase order (CPO) in Ireland, the acquiring authority must follow strict procedures under the Planning and Development Act 2000, including publishing notice, allowing objections, and paying fair compensation.

Adverse possession in Ireland is a legal process where a person who occupies someone else’s land without permission may acquire legal ownership after 12 years of continuous, open, and exclusive possession.

Yes, you can create a trust over property in Ireland, but it must comply with formal requirements — including being in writing and signed by the person creating the trust or their authorised agent.

Yes, as the current owner, you are generally liable for unauthorised development under the Planning and Development Act 2000 — even if the breach occurred before you bought the property.

Yes, as a co-owner in Ireland, you can apply to the court for an order for partition or sale of the property under section 31 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009.

Buying property in Ireland involves agreeing a sale, instructing a solicitor, carrying out due diligence, signing contracts, paying a deposit, and completing with full payment and registration of ownership.

In Ireland, stamp duty on residential property purchases is generally 1% of the purchase price for properties up to €1 million, and 2% on the amount over €1 million.

Yes, your mortgage lender in Ireland can sell your property if you default, but only after following strict legal steps — including serving a formal warning notice and obtaining court permission in most cases.

Yes, there are restrictions on buying agricultural land in Ireland, primarily to protect farming viability and ensure land remains in active agricultural use.