Property & Conveyancing

Engaging a property lawyer in Trinidad and Tobago before you commit to a purchase, sale, or lease is one of the most practical decisions a buyer, seller, or landlord can make. Property transactions here can be complicated by unclear title chains, unregistered interests, family encumbrances, missing documents, and planning-related issues that only surface after money has changed hands or an agreement has been signed. At Martin George & Company, we have been handling conveyancing, property disputes, and land-related matters for over three decades, and we know where the risk points tend to appear in local transactions. Whether you are buying your first home in Port of Spain, managing a rental portfolio in Tobago, or dealing with a boundary dispute involving family land, the firm can assist you from first review through to completion.

Conveyancing in Trinidad and Tobago is governed primarily by the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, Chapter 56:01 and the Real Property Act, Chapter 56:02 (which governs registered land under the Torrens-style system). Stamp duty on the transfer is governed by the Stamp Duty Act, Chapter 76:01, with first-time-buyer exemptions and tiered rates that depend on the value of the property. Conveyancing involves verifying that the seller has the right to sell, that there are no outstanding charges or encumbrances on the title, that the description of the land matches the physical reality (often requiring a fresh land surveyor’s report), and that the documentation trail is complete enough to satisfy a future buyer, mortgagee, or court. Title searches and reports at the Registrar General’s Department are a core part of this process. Clients are strongly advised not to rely on the other side’s assurances about title — an independent review can reveal problems that are far easier and cheaper to address before a transaction completes than after.

Where an estate or family interest is involved in the property, those issues need to be traced and resolved as part of the conveyancing work, not left as assumptions. The Administration of Estates Act, Chapter 9:01 governs how a deceased’s interest in land passes, and a grant of probate or letters of administration is usually required before transfer. Where land has been occupied by someone other than the registered owner for a long period, an adverse-possession claim under the Real Property Limitation Act, Chapter 56:03 may be available to extinguish the legal title — the standard is strict (open, continuous, exclusive, adverse possession for 16 years against a private owner, 30 years against the State) and the evidence requires careful preparation.

The firm’s property and conveyancing service covers the full range of matters that arise in connection with land and buildings in Trinidad and Tobago. This includes straightforward sales and purchases, leases (residential matters fall under the Landlord and Tenant Act, Chapter 59:55), mortgages, rental management, construction contracts, planning permission disputes under the Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 35:01, and injunction applications where illegal construction is taking place on or near a client’s land. Tenancy disputes, evictions, and arrears-of-rent enforcement are also part of the practice — landlords should be aware that self-help (changing locks, removing belongings) is not legal and can expose them to claims; the proper route is a notice to quit followed by possession proceedings.

Services in this practice area

• Conveyances
• Contracts
• Disputes
• Tenancies
• Mortgages
• Construction Management and Supervision
• Rental Property Management Services
• Property Maintenance & Repair Supervision
• Construction Contracts
• Agreements for Sale
• Rental Agreements
• Eviction / Levy and Sale of Goods for Arrears of Rent
• Notice to Quit and Termination of Tenancies
• Landlord’s Covenant to Maintain or Repair
• Damage to Premises and Security Deposit
• Trespass to Land
• Illegal Construction
• Planning Permission
• Injunction Orders to stop Illegal Construction
• Rights of Way
• Easements
• Adverse Possession
• RPO Applications (Real Property Ordinance)
• Land Tenants
• Deeds of Release
• Deeds of Rectification
• Deeds of Gift
• Property Transfers
• Building Contracts
• Leases
• Boundary Disputes
• Verification of Title
• Title Searches & Reports
• Applications for Certificates of Title
• Squatter’s Rights
• Extinguishment of Title

When you come in for a property consultation, bring whatever documents you already have: the agreement for sale if one has been signed, title deeds, a description or site plan of the land, any correspondence from the other side, and details of any financing or mortgage arrangement. If the property is part of an estate, bring any probate documents or information about who holds the title. The more complete your document picture, the faster we can identify what is in order and what needs attention before the transaction can proceed safely.

Our approach to property work is methodical. We review the title, the transaction structure, and the risk points before advising on the path forward — not after. Where a dispute is involved, we assess the evidence, the strength of the legal position, and whether negotiation, a protective order, or formal proceedings offer the best result in the circumstances. Clients across Trinidad and Tobago, including those dealing with inherited or family-owned land, can expect the same level of attention to detail whether their matter is a straightforward residential conveyance or a complex title dispute with a long history behind it.

Further reading at law.martingeorge.net

For deeper background on T&T property and land law, see the firm’s legal education site:

• Conveyances on Sale of Real Property in Trinidad and Tobago: The Legal Process from Agreement to Registered Deed
• Co-Ownership of Land in Trinidad and Tobago: Joint Tenancy, Tenancy in Common, and Partition
• Adverse Possession in Trinidad and Tobago: How Someone Can Legally Claim Your Land
• Leases in Trinidad and Tobago: Formalities, Essential Elements, and Standard Covenants
• Landlord and Tenant Law in Trinidad and Tobago: Rights, Rent, and Eviction