The cadastral certificate is a document that provides official information on properties or land registered with the Land Registry, a public body administered by the Revenue Agency. It is a fundamental tool for both citizens and professionals, as it contains essential data for identifying properties and understanding their legal and tax status. In this article, we’ll explore in detail what a cadastral certificate is, how to obtain one, what it’s for, and what types of certificates are available.
What is the land registry?
As reported by the Italian Revenue Agency, the cadastral survey is a document that contains a series of data on properties or land registered in the Land Registry:
- Cadastral identification numbers for land and buildings
- Data of the owner or other holder of real rights over the property
- Cadastral map and floor plans
- Surface area in square meters
- Cadastral update documents
The documentation is used for both administrative and tax purposes: for example, it is an essential document for anyone who needs to carry out real estate transactions (for example, buying and selling a building or land), but also for building practices and inheritance declarations.
Types of land registry search
There are different types of cadastral surveys, each useful for specific needs. The ordinary cadastral survey is the most common version of the document, containing updated property data. If you need all the information regarding changes to the property over time—such as changes in ownership, structural modifications, or updates to cadastral data—you can use the historical cadastral survey.
If you need information on properties registered to a natural or legal person, you can use the individual cadastral survey. Finally, the land cadastral survey is used for data on their intended use, class, and surface area.
Why is a land registry search necessary?
As mentioned, a land registry certificate is required in various situations, for both legal and tax purposes. This is primarily true when buying or selling a property: the document is essential to confirm that the seller is the owner and provides an overview of the property’s characteristics (necessary for calculating taxes), such as its surface area and cadastral income.
A land registry certificate is also useful for verifying the correspondence between the actual condition of a property and the data in the Land Registry. This step is essential, for example, before a real estate sale, to avoid discrepancies that could slow down or prevent the transaction.
In the case of inheritance, however, a land registry certificate is required to determine the deceased’s real estate assets. This document is also used to correctly file the inheritance tax return and pay the related taxes. The cadastral income found in the certificate is a key element in calculating property-related taxes (IMU or TASI). Having an up-to-date property report allows you to correctly determine the amount to be paid.
A property report may also be required when renovations or land registry changes are required, for all subdivisions or mergers of real estate units. In these two cases, it is essential that it be submitted to the Municipality or the Revenue Agency.
Online Land Registry Search: How to Request It
It’s now possible to request a land registry certificate online through digital services provided by the Revenue Agency, such as Entratel and Fisconline. These tools allow you to obtain the document from the comfort of your home, without having to physically visit the land registry offices. To access the portals, you’ll need your SPID, CNS (National Services Card), or CIE (Electronic Identity Card) credentials.
Once logged into the portal, you can search for properties by entering the land registry identifiers, the owner’s tax code, or other information. The certificate is issued in PDF format and can be downloaded immediately.
Land registry search on Sister
The Revenue Agency’s Sister platform is the primary tool used by industry professionals (such as surveyors, engineers, and notaries) to access land registry data. This paid service allows for more in-depth land registry searches and detailed land registry records for properties and land.
Physical branches
Of course, it’s also possible to make the request by physically visiting the Provincial Revenue Agency Offices, or at the decentralized land registry offices located at the offices of Municipalities, Mountain Communities, Unions of Municipalities, and Associations of Municipalities. When the request is made at the office, the certificate is issued to the applicant in paper format.
Free land registry search: when is it available?
In some cases, it’s possible to obtain a free land registry search. Property owners can access the land registry data for their properties free of charge through the Revenue Agency website, using their SPID, CNS, or CIE credentials.
The free service, however, is limited to searches for properties registered to the person making the request. If you require land registry searches for third-party properties or more complex historical searches, you will need to pay a fee.
Cost of the land registry survey
As mentioned above, if the search is not required for a property you own, or if you require a historical or in-depth search, there is a fee. Here are the standard fees for requesting a cadastral search from the Revenue Agency:
- €1.35 for every 10 real estate units, or fractions thereof, for a search per individual.
- €1.35 for a current or historical search per property.
- €1.35 for a map search.
Our advice
Finally, here are some helpful tips to help you navigate the process of requesting and managing a land registry survey:
- Verify data is up-to-date – Before using the property search for legal or tax purposes, ensure the information is up-to-date and accurate. This is especially important if the property has undergone structural changes or if there have been recent changes of ownership.
- Always use official channels – To avoid unnecessary expenses or incorrect information, request a land registry search through the official channels of the Revenue Agency.
- When in doubt, consult a professional – If you’re unsure which type of inspection to request or if you need help interpreting the data contained in the document, consult a professional. They can ensure that all procedures are carried out correctly.