10 Tips for NRIs Property Protection

The NRIs, who own property in India, live in fear if they have left it unoccupied. Land-mafia and squatters keep their eyes on their land or property for illegal possession. The price of a piece of land or property tends to grow since its demand is always there for sheltering. It is an earning source of several people as rental income as well. Doing a little bit of evil practice can make those evil practitioners millionaires overnight. However, it sounds quite filmy but actually it happens. 

Illegal confiscation of land

How the illegal occupiers snatch away NRIs land? Despite being an illegal act, there are many government officers who act no less than the wolves in lamb’s clothing. The squatters target unattended houses of NRIs with the connivance of local revenue authority and get hold of them. They lend them to tenants by preparing fake papers of the property. They follow this illegal practice for earning rental income which goes to the pocket of frauds. And even sometimes, they themselves possess it as tenant. This they do to enjoy the legal right of the tenant. The constitution has crafted the law of eviction and tenancy law in favour of the tenants. Instead of favouring the owners, the law gives them judicial protection. As a result, the NRIs are left with no other step but to go for NRIs property management. Or, they have to go through harassment and mental torture.

How NRIs can protect their property?

The migrants can keep their property safe and protected if:

1. They have kept their property’s legal papers and documents in place to prove their possession. He should have the title deeds, jamabandis, mutation/inktal, copy of the Will (if any), sale deed, original land purchase papers, utility bills and telephone bills etc.
2. They keep all the revenue records mutations that must be in their favour.
3. They must carry the formal police complaint if they don’t have the Will of the inherited property. Get this news released in at least two newspapers and keep the certified copies of such documentation safe that should be issued from the registering authority or revenue office. 
4. They clear all the tax payments, such as of municipality/panchayat/ property tax etc.
5.  They should maintain good relations with the neighbours so that they can state in favour of them. 
6. They must have legal tenancy agreement(s), if any. Get it done by a lawyer.
7. They have made a rental deed or agreement. Please don’t mix your personal relation with the legal matters. Rental agreement is a legal matter and if they get the tenants hired from their relation, even then also, this deed must be with them because prevention is better than cure.
8. They must go for police investigation of the tenant. If they have registered and verified them with the police, the risk of fraud can be minimized. It is a mandatory order for all property owners. Legal action can be taken in absence of it by alleging that they are sheltering the terrorist. Who knows, that tenant might be a terrorist.
9. They have the rental agreement with the date of maturity along with the request vacation. Sometimes, renewal of lease agreement can be skipped. Do keep it mind and immediately renew it before or on the date of its maturity.
10. They must keep eyes on the bank statements monthly if the rental is credited to bank account. Chances of getting the cheque bounced are very much there. If so happens, they should promptly seek answer and settle down the matter with the tenants.