We are in the process of buying a small holiday home in a holiday complex. It has come to light that the management company didn’t have a small part of half the road near the house signed over to them. The company is now dissolved. Can we get title indemnity insurance to deal with this defective title? What is the most cost-efficient and secure way of doing this?
It is possible in a situation such as this to obtain title indemnity insurance, and that is likely to be the most cost-efficient way of dealing with the defect. The alternative is to have the management company reinstated or a new management company set up and a court application or engagement with the developer, if it is trading, to transfer half the road to the management company.
Title indemnity insurance is a form of insurance which protects property owners and lenders against financial loss resulting from challenges or defects in the title to property. The insurance should be for the benefit of the purchaser and all successors in title (including their lenders).
Therefore, in the event of the transfer of ownership of the property, the benefit of the policy should automatically pass to the successors in title. The protection in monetary terms to be provided by the bond should also be considered with care to ensure it is adequate.
One in five people expect to pay mortgage in retirement, survey finds
Irish architectural great Ronnie Tallon built a home far superior to Mies van der Rohe’s original. Time to protect it
Sherry FitzGerald CEO Steven McKenna to leave firm to ‘explore new opportunities’
Avoiding double taxation on sale of a property abroad
In a purchase situation, you should request that the vendor procure such a bond at their cost. They will need to submit a questionnaire to the insurance broker setting out the details of the property and defect.
Siobhán Durkan is a partner at P O’Connor & Son, solicitors, Swinford, Co Mayo www.poconsol.ie
Do you have a query? Email propertyquestions@irishtimes.com
This column is a readers’ service. The content of the Property Clinic is provided for general information only. It is not intended as advice on which readers should rely. Professional or specialist advice should be obtained before people take or refrain from any action on the basis of the content. The Irish Times and its contributors will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on any content
