A plot without electricity and water: what to clarify first

The presence of an electricity pole or a water main next to the plot doesn't automatically guarantee a right to connect. The existing network may have no spare capacity in that specific section, may require third-party consent to run a route across other plots, or may fall under extra technical conditions. That's why 'nearby' should always be verified, not taken on trust from a seller or a listing.

• Confirmation from the electricity distribution company of available capacity in the section and the connection conditions
• Confirmation from the water utility of existing water supply and sewerage at or near the plot
• Information on the specific route the connection would follow — whether it crosses other plots
• An indicative order of cost and procedure, clearly marked as preliminary rather than a final offer

These documents are usually obtained through a formal request to the relevant company for the specific plot — a general enquiry about the area isn't enough.

Even if the network has capacity, connecting may require building a route across a neighbouring plot, which in turn needs that owner's consent and the creation of an easement. This is a separate, additional process that needs to be clarified beforehand, not after the purchase.

As a hypothetical example, suppose a buyer is comparing two plots at a similar price of €45,000. For one, the utility confirms in writing spare capacity and a route contained entirely within the plot. For the other, the answer indicates a new route is needed across three neighbouring plots along with capacity upgrades in the section. Although the asking prices look comparable, the real 'price including connection' can differ substantially between the two — which is exactly why written confirmation matters before the offer, not after it.

Buyers often rely on a photo from the viewing, the listing, or a neighbour's word instead of an official document — and the visual presence of a pole or a manhole says nothing about spare capacity in the section. Another common mistake is to treat an indicative connection quote as the final price and leave no margin in the budget for additional requirements that only emerge once detailed design work begins.

• Relying on a visual impression instead of a written answer from the utility
• Treating a preliminary connection quote as the final price
• Overlooking who owns the route and whether it crosses someone else's plot
• Leaving no budget margin for additional technical requirements

Infrastructure often goes hand in hand with the question of physical and legal access to the plot — see access to a plot. In both cases the same rule applies: a map or a general impression is no substitute for written confirmation from the competent authority.

If a seller cannot or will not provide written answers from the utility companies, that in itself is a signal to budget extra time and money into the scenario rather than assume the most optimistic case. A purchase decision is on firmer ground when it rests on a document rather than a verbal assurance.

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