DEFECT IN PROPERTY IS DIFFERENT FROM DEFECT IN TITLE

                                                         

In recent times, dealings in real estate in Bangalore have been at the peak. Predominant reason for this is the growth of IT sector and the eagerness of the people to invest their money in real estates in and around Bangalore. As the Real Estates require huge investments, the purchaser has to take necessary precautions before investing his money to save himself from future complications. If the property transferred suffers from any defect in the title of the vendor, the purchaser does not get good and marketable title. Therefore, the purchaser has to make doubly sure before finalizing the deal, that the vendor has got a valid and marketable title. 

Marketable Title:

The term “Marketable title” means a title which is clear and free from reasonable doubts and is a title good against everybody. Thus, it is the title which establishes full ownership of the vendor to the property intended to be conveyed, without reasonable doubt. A buyer is not bound to complete the sale if there are defects in the title to the property which are material and latent. The defect to be material, it is to be of such a nature that if the purchaser were aware of it he would not have entered into the contract of sale at all. 

Doubtful or defective title:

A title is said to be doubtful when the vendor does not have any conclusive evidence to prove the ownership. The defects in title are generally latent defects which can be found only on investigation of title by perusal of documents, by an eminent advocate, carrying out searches of Government Departments and Municipal records and by making reasonable enquiries. The vendor is bound to disclose such latent defects known to him. 

A title becomes doubtful:

1. Where the doubt arises by reason of some uncertainty in law itself;

2. Where the doubt pertains to the application of some settled principle or rule of law.

3. Where a matter of fact upon which a title depends is either not in its nature capable of satisfactory proof or is capable of such proof but yet not satisfactorily proved.

The following are a few instances where the title cannot be termed as defective:

-An omission to disclose a prior agreement for sale by the Vendor is not a defect in title.

-Title by adverse possession is marketable and not a defective title, if proper title by such possession can be successfully made out. A title may be good although there are no Deeds but there must have been such a long uninterrupted possession, enjoyment and dealing with the property as to form a reasonable presumption that the title is absolute .

-Loss of title deed is not a defect, if the loss can be explained satisfactorily.

Defect in property:

Defect in property is different from the defect in title. A defect in the property only prejudices the purchaser in the physical enjoyment of the property but the defect in title exposes the purchaser to adverse claims. This difference has been enunciated in Section 55 (1) (a) of the Transfer of Property Act, which provides that the vendor is bound to disclose to the purchaser any material defect in the property or in the vendor’s title. The defects in property are generally patent defects which can be seen on an inspection of the property and the Vendor need not disclose the same so long as the same does not lead to defect in title.

Root of title:

In investigating title and in considering whether the title is marketable and free from reasonable doubts, it is necessary to find out the root of the title. Documents are considered as root of the title. A good root of title is a document purporting to deal with the entire property conveyed, which does not depend upon the validity of any previous instrument and without inviting any suspicion on the title of the Vendor. It may also be described as a document of transfer of property showing nothing to cast any doubt on the title.

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