What you are actually buying
The apartment, its share of the land beneath the building and, if included, the parking space and storage unit.
a service by
Legal review before you buy an apartment
Instinct says yes.What do the papers say?
You have found the apartment. Before you sign or pay, we review the documents and explain the risks we have identified, what they could mean for you and what we recommend you do.
500 leiVAT included · Fixed price
You can ask a question without creating an account or uploading documents.
You pay for the review after we accept the initial documents and enter into the service agreement.
Your documents and report stay in your secure account.
What you receive
An analysis that helps you decide whether to go ahead, and on what terms.
What the documents reveal
From differences between the documents and what you were promised to issues with the seller's ownership rights or the building's permits.
What it means for you
The possible consequences of these issues and the steps we recommend before you buy.
Some issues can be resolved before signing. In other cases, our recommendation is not to buy.
The report also includes separate lists of the documents the seller and buyer need at signing. We clearly explain what our conclusions are based on and what we could not verify.
See everything we check
01
The seller's right to sell
Is the person selling you the property entitled to do so?
02
Exactly what you are buying
The apartment, shares of land, parking space, storage unit and any other rights promised to you.
03
Mortgages, charges and other people's rights
What is registered against the property and what needs to be resolved as part of the transaction.
04
The building's legal status
The building permit and formal acceptance of the completed works, where relevant to your property.
05
Documents versus cadastral records
Whether the documents describe the same property.
06
The property versus its documents
We compare the documents with the information and images provided. The review does not include a site inspection.
07
The seller and their representatives
Who will sign and whether they have the legal authority to do so.
08
Who uses the property
Tenants, other occupants or circumstances that could affect the handover.
09
Relevant debts
Taxes, owners' association fees and utilities, to the extent they matter to the buyer.
10
Special circumstances
We analyse the issues identified in your file. Only particularly serious issues may require separate legal assistance.
Who reviews your report
I'm Șerban Patriciu. I personally review and approve your report.
I have over 25 years of experience in real estate law. I was a partner at White & Case and Head of Real Estate Romania at Noerr.
I built LA RECE so that more buyers could benefit from an independent legal review before making an important decision.
We work for you, the buyer. We are not paid by the seller or developer.
How to get started
Three steps to your report.
Tell us what you want to buy and upload the initial documents.
Complete a questionnaire and upload the seller's title document and a land registry extract issued within the last six months. The documents must be legible and identify the apartment. We check them before you pay. You electronically accept the service agreement and terms, then pay 500 lei, VAT included.
We guide you through collecting the documents you need.
After payment, you receive a document list tailored to the apartment and an email ready to send to the seller. Șerban Patriciu reviews and approves both before you receive them. You send the email and upload the documents as you obtain them.
You have 7 days from publication of the approved document request in your account. If you finish sooner, you can close the document collection stage then.
Receive your report, reviewed by a lawyer.
Once your file is closed, we analyse the documents. Your final report, personally reviewed and approved by Șerban Patriciu, is available in your secure account within 48 hours of file closure.
Practical questions
Questions before you start.
I don't have the documents yet. What should I do?
To start the review, you need the seller's title document and a land registry extract issued within the last six months. You can ask the seller for these. If you are unsure what to request or whether the service suits your situation, write to us before you start.
When will I receive my report?
You receive your report within 48 consecutive hours of file closure, including weekends and public holidays. Your file closes when you choose to finish adding documents or when the 7 days (168 consecutive hours) from publication of the approved document request expire. The 48-hour period does not start at payment or your first upload.
What if I don't receive all the documents?
You can upload documents as you receive them. The report explains what we could verify from the available information, what remains unconfirmed and how the missing information affects our conclusions. Missing documents do not mean the apartment is problem-free.
Doesn't the notary check the documents?
The notary has their own duties to check documents and must remain impartial. LA RECE analyses the documents in your interests as a prospective buyer and makes recommendations to help you decide. Any report requested by a bank should be assessed by what it actually checks; we do not assume it covers the same questions.
How can it cost 500 lei?
The service addresses a specific need: a legal review before buying an apartment. Technology helps us work efficiently, while Șerban Patriciu checks the analysis and personally approves the report. The price is fixed and includes VAT.
Are my documents secure?
Documents are kept private and encrypted, with controlled access. You upload them and receive your report in your secure account. Details about data protection and the use of AI are available in our privacy policy.
Does the review cover every risk?
This is a legal review based on the documents and information available. It does not include a technical inspection of the apartment and does not guarantee that all risks are absent. Serious issues may require separate legal assistance; we explain the situation and the recommended next steps.
Let's talk
Have a question before you start?
Tell me where you are in the buying process and what concerns you. I will explain whether LA RECE suits your situation and what you need to get started.
Șerban Patriciu
contact@la-rece.ro Send me your questionYou don't need an account. You don't need to send any documents for this initial conversation.
Found your apartment?
Check the risks before you buy.
500 lei, VAT included · Fixed price