Morocco Tightens Land Ownership Rules to Combat Real Estate Fraud

Since Monday, September 16, the authorities no longer issue copies of the Certificate of Real Estate Ownership concerning a third party. Indeed, this document is one of the loopholes exploited by land spoliation specialists.

Today, the authorities no longer sign this document, unless they have an official mandate or are a notary, lawyer or adoul. Obtaining this document remains an impossible mission.

This measure, according to Challenge, also applies to both Certificates of Ownership and copies of land titles and any other document filed with the Land Registry Agency. The consultation of land titles concerning third parties will also be prohibited without a power of attorney, continues the daily.

The same source points out that the House of Representatives had unanimously approved, on Tuesday, May 28, the draft law relating to the criminal procedure in the matter of land spoliation.

The amended articles give the investigating judge and the court full rights to seize a property that is the subject of land spoliation, during the preliminary investigation stage.

They can also refer the case in question to the court as part of the ongoing public action, as a precautionary measure pending a ruling on the case by virtue of a judgment that has acquired the force of res judicata.