A title deed (or strata title, in Malaysia) is the government-issued document that legally registers a buyer as the owner of a specific property. For off-plan purchases, the title deed is typically issued after handover, once the final payment has cleared and the developer has obtained completion certification from the relevant authority.
Why It Matters
- —Until the title deed is issued, the buyer's interest is protected by the SPA and any interim registration (such as Dubai's Oqood), not full legal title.
- —In Malaysia, individual strata titles can take months or years to issue after handover — vacant possession is not the same as title transfer.
- —Always confirm whether title is freehold or leasehold, and check for any developer mortgage or charge that needs to be discharged first.