An out-of-court solution through land registry mediation is now available for properties classified as “unknown owner,” where citizens claim rights based on extraordinary adverse possession.
According to the data, out of the 72% of the country’s land registration covering 3.45 million properties, nearly 9% are listed as “unknown owner”.
Recently, Law 5197/2025 made it possible to correct these “unknown owner” entries through land registry mediation. Building on the already successful land registry mediation provision, the scope of the measure is now being extended to cases where someone claims ownership based on extraordinary adverse possession.
Until now, even when the State, municipalities, and public law entities were not contesting the property, citizens still had to file a court application and go through a costly, time-consuming process to secure their ownership. In most cases, they even had to go to court twice.
Under this new legislative initiative from the Ministry of Justice, specifically its Special Secretariat for Alternative Dispute Resolution, citizens will benefit from the following changes:
- Genuine public disclosure through registration in the Land Registry’s Basic Information Sheet, allowing access to the data and the chance for third parties to be informed and intervene if needed.
- Land registry mediation carried out by a special registry of mediators.
- If mediation succeeds, the mediation record will include: 1) a document from the State, municipalities, or public law entities confirming they are not claiming rights, and 2) at least two sworn statements from the individual, along with an E9 property tax form for the property in question covering at least ten years before the mandatory mediation session.
Additional supporting evidence may also be submitted, including:
- Receipts for electricity, phone, or water service in the claimant’s name.
- Lease agreements naming them as the landlord, or receipts for rent collected.
- Declarations made before public or tax authorities.
- Building permits.
- Topographical surveys with a confirmed date, especially ones attached to property titles, notarial deeds, or building permits.
- A private sale or division agreement drawn up at least twenty years before the mediation process began, bearing a confirmed date.
This groundbreaking provision, Article 61 of the bill currently being reviewed by the relevant parliamentary committee, resolves long-standing problems quickly and outside the courts, while fully protecting every citizen’s rights and helping the economy run more smoothly by putting thousands of properties to productive use.
