Selling an inherited property

The first step is to establish the ownership chain — from whom the property was acquired, when, and which inheritance or transfer deeds link the deceased to the current owners. If the property has passed through several generations without the documents being updated, the chain may be incomplete or have gaps that need filling in before a sale.

A certificate of heirs is a starting point, but on its own it does not determine the shares in a sale — that depends on the specific circumstances, including any will, and requires review by a notary or lawyer rather than assumptions.

When a property is inherited by more than one person, the sale usually requires the consent of all co-owners, unless only a specific share is being sold subject to the other co-owners' right of first refusal. Disagreements among heirs over price, timing or method of sale are a common source of delay.

As a hypothetical example: three heirs own equal shares of an apartment and want to sell it. If the property sells for €150,000, each share corresponds to €50,000 before deducting transaction costs — the actual distribution depends on each heir's specific share and should be confirmed from the documents.

It helps to agree in writing in advance on a minimum acceptable price and on who leads communication with buyers — this avoids contradictory answers to inquiries and confusion during viewings.

If the property has not been actively used by the heirs, it is also worth checking for unpaid utility or electricity liabilities accumulated under the deceased's name.

Inherited properties often have outdated cadastral data, a missing up-to-date sketch, or a tax assessment issued long ago. Before proceeding with a sale, it is worth checking what documents are actually missing — see also the starting checklist of sale documents — to avoid delays right before a scheduled transaction.

Sometimes the cadastral map needs updating or certificates need to be issued, which takes time — the earlier the gaps are identified, the smoother the process.

Before setting a price and publishing a listing, it is worth the heirs clarifying the following together.

• Do all heirs agree to the sale, or do only some of them want to sell their share?
• Is there a will, and does it conflict with statutory inheritance?
• Is property tax and waste collection fee up to date, or are there accumulated liabilities?
• Is there an existing tenancy agreement on the property that needs to be accounted for in a sale?
• Which of the heirs will represent everyone in front of the buyer and the notary?

Especially in complex cases — several generations of heirs, a property with some heirs living abroad, or disputes — an early consultation with a lawyer saves time and avoids last-minute complications.

Gather the available documents, identify all co-owners and seek legal advice early, before setting a price and going to market. You can also look at our transaction services for support coordinating the process.