Island Due Diligence: Avoiding the Common Legal Pitfalls of Jamaican Real Estate Transactions

Buying in paradise requires a sharp legal eye.

The "Family Land" Trap

Avoid buying "family land" unless the title has been regularized. If multiple generations claim ownership without a will or title, the sale can be contested for decades.

Unregistered Land

Some land in rural Jamaica is still under "Common Law" title rather than "Registered Title." Converting this takes time and money. Always insist on a Registered Title.

Breach of Covenant

Did the previous owner turn a residential garage into a commercial shop? If this breaches the restrictive covenant on the title, you can be forced to revert it.

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